Ploughing on oxen 

Arkhyp Kuindzhi made this drawing, "Ploughing on Oxen," with graphite on paper. The image offers a glimpse into the socio-economic structure of rural life, likely in the Russian Empire, during the latter half of the 19th century. The drawing captures a farmer guiding a team of oxen, a scene that speaks to the agrarian economy and the reliance on manual labor. Kuindzhi’s artistic focus often centered on landscape and the effects of light. Here he directs our attention to the vastness of the land and the intimate relationship between humans and nature. The social conditions of the time, including the legacy of serfdom and the growing agrarian crisis in Imperial Russia, provide a critical lens through which to interpret this work. Research into agricultural practices, peasant life, and land reform policies of the period are essential to grasp the full context of this image. In this way we can appreciate it as a commentary on the social structures of its time.