12 classic paintings by Russian artists that have no place in school textbooks

Of all the forms of art, literature and theater are usually engaged in exposing social vices. Artists more often convey something sublime or dramatic. However, even among the classical works of fine art there are paintings that represent society from an unseemly side. It's just that they are usually displayed in the back halls of galleries, and even more so they are not included in school textbooks.

1. "Drunk father of the family"

Nikolai Kasatkin, 1897

Korzukhin became one of the first Russian artists who in their work raised the topic of the disenfranchisement of women and children compared to men. Ilya Repin wrote: "The paintings of that era made the viewer blush, shudder and look more intently into himself. Would you like to admire Korzukhin's painting: a drunken father falls into his family in an insensitive state. Children and wife in panic terror… How wild this barbarian is!"

2. "Washed down"

Ivan Gorokhov, late XIX - early XX centuries.

Gorokhov, famous for genre paintings about village life, could not ignore the topic of the despotic behavior of Russian peasants. In this picture we see a drunken peasant who brought home another bottle. The eldest son clenches his fist in impotent anger, the rest of the household has already prepared for the worst.

3. "Quietly from my wife"

Vladimir Makovsky, 1872

There are, of course, families where the wife is in charge. Then the male habit of taking a sip of the bottle goes from riotous to shameful, but no less regular. It is still unknown what is worse.

4. "Following the example of the elders"

Vasily Maksimov, 1864

The youngsters, who barely had the first facial hair, tried to keep up with their fathers. And, without realizing it, they gradually turned into the same drunken tyrants.

5. "Spanking"

Pavel Kovalevsky, 1880

Children were punished mercilessly for their antics. Whips, whips, rods, sticks were used. Punishments overtook even the offspring of noble families. Pedagogy in the XIX century was peculiar, parents believed that they were being beaten on the right path.

6. "Beginner"

Ivan Bogdanov, 1893

In poor families, children were treated even more strictly, almost like adults. Since the age of three, the kids have been working in the fields and around the house on an equal basis with everyone. And teenagers were handed over as apprentices, to learn a craft. Naturally, they were also "brought up" there.

7. "Before punishment"

Sergey Korovin, 1884

The guilty peasants were also treated with rods. Korovin's painting depicts a scene in the volost board. The condemned peasant pulls off a torn zip, and in the corner the executioner ties the last bundle of thin rods.

8. "Merchant's wake"

Firs Zhuravlev, 1876

Merchants — people, as a rule, not too well-mannered and educated - have forgotten what they gathered for, and it seems they are ready to go dancing. The mournful assembly has been turned into a disgusting farce.

9. "The Protodeacon proclaiming longevity at merchants' name days"

Nikolay Nevrev, 1866

Name day is a festive event, and fun is quite appropriate here. But the priest, flushed from alcohol, who is shouting something, is already over the edge.

10. "Consecration of a brothel"

Vladimir Makovsky, 1900

The artist Makovsky went down in history as the founder of the genre of critical realism. His sketch combines completely incongruous things: a brothel as a low point of sinfulness and religion, perceived by society as the highest manifestation of spirituality.

11. "Rural procession for Easter"

Vasily Perov, 1861

The church's condescending attitude to drunkenness was astounding. In Perov's painting, some peasants who got drunk during a religious holiday are no longer standing on their feet, and those who can still walk barely think: the peasant in the center carries the icon upside down.

12. "The sexton explains to the peasants the picture of the Last Judgment"

Vasily Pukirev, 1868

Instead of educating morality among the unenlightened people, the churchmen intimidated and oppressed the peasants with terrible thoughts about the punishments that would befall them in case of sinful behavior.