Russian Cavalry n.d.

Rodolphe Bresdin made this pen lithograph, entitled 'Russian Cavalry,' sometime in the 19th century. Bresdin was working in France during a period of intense fascination with foreign cultures. The print presents an image of Russian soldiers, but it's not clear if Bresdin ever actually went to Russia. Instead, the image might tell us more about French perceptions of Russia at the time. The soldiers are adorned with elaborate costumes, which may reflect a French interest in the exotic and the ‘oriental.’ France was a major European power at the time, and its cultural institutions often played a role in shaping public perceptions of other countries. We can ask, to what extent did the French public see Russia as an economic and political rival, or potential ally? To answer these questions, historians consult a wide range of sources, including newspapers, political pamphlets, and travelogues. By analyzing the image and the historical context, we can gain a deeper understanding of the social, cultural, and institutional forces that shaped artistic production in 19th-century France.