Russian Types

August 23, 2010 1:55 PM

"During the 1860s, several photographers based in Moscow and St. Petersburg produced series of cartes-de-visite showing Russian 'types.' These remarkable portraits provide a fascinating record of working-class townspeople, artisans, street vendors and peasants, some staged performing an activity, such as drinking tea or gaming, and some photographed in the performance of their occupation."
posted by gman (22 comments total)

Congratulations on NOT being a repost of the Prokudin-Gorskii photos!
posted by briank at 2:00 PM on August 23, 2010 [6 favorites]

These are just wonderful.
posted by Auden at 2:02 PM on August 23, 2010

These are fantastic. The shoes on these peasants and the tools they are holding are really interesting. The left tool looks like an adze, but I'm not sure what the trowel-like implement is.
posted by gemmy at 2:05 PM on August 23, 2010

I was born in St. Petersburg, but came to American when I was six. Growing up here, I'd always see old photos -- the Civil War, the Depression -- and I could never really identify with them. I know that had I been born back then, my family wouldn't have emigrated to the States, and that I could very well have grown up to be one of the people in these pictures.
posted by griphus at 2:08 PM on August 23, 2010

I had no Idea they had checkered vans in the 1860s.
posted by piratebowling at 2:09 PM on August 23, 2010

I had no Idea they had checkered vans in the 1860s.

Time traveling hipster strikes again!
posted by theodolite at 2:11 PM on August 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

Beniah Brawn has tonnes of other great sets as well.
posted by gman at 2:13 PM on August 23, 2010 [1 favorite]

Neat! Love that "peep show" at the end. Heh.
posted by Gator at 2:19 PM on August 23, 2010

I had no Idea they had checkered vans in the 1860s.

Time traveling hipster Mighty Mighty Bosstones fan strikes again!
posted by shakespeherian at 2:19 PM on August 23, 2010

This photo was taken on October 10, 2008.

Somehow, I doubt that.
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 2:21 PM on August 23, 2010

I keep seeing Rasputin everywhere.
Mad monk.
Mad monk.
Mad monk.
Butcher.
Mad monk.

Modern Russian faces...
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 2:38 PM on August 23, 2010

Peep show!?
posted by millipede at 3:05 PM on August 23, 2010

Wonderful images—thanks for the post!
posted by languagehat at 3:06 PM on August 23, 2010

Peep show!
posted by Gator at 3:24 PM on August 23, 2010

So, has anyone found their occupation represented yet?
posted by Iron Rat at 5:52 PM on August 23, 2010

I just linked to mine.
posted by Gator at 6:02 PM on August 23, 2010

They call me "The Butcher" but it's not really my occupation. More of a hobby.
posted by breath at 7:11 PM on August 23, 2010

Fantastic find. I love the outfit on this wetnurse but the nun is scaring the pants off me.
posted by shinybaum at 7:18 PM on August 23, 2010

Chimney sweep, or commando?
posted by furtive at 7:55 PM on August 23, 2010

Worth it just for the Jules Léotard card.
posted by furtive at 8:53 PM on August 23, 2010

Kinda totally in love with all the boots. They look so cozy!
posted by sonika at 6:16 AM on August 24, 2010

The Big Picture: Russia in color, a century ago
posted by homunculus at 9:21 PM on August 25, 2010