1844
Paper glued onto carton, sepia, pen
31,6 x 47,6

In 1844, the artist followed an “old passion for scenes illustrating a critique of mores from everyday life” and made 8 works in sepia dealing with social themes (all are in the State Tretyakov Gallery). They are notable for having developed plots and specific times and actions (diverse and going off in different directions). The compositions are well structured. The characters depicted are types personifying one or another human quality. The characterizations are sharp, verging on caricature. The view of the world is analytical. The artist’s main theme was the “sea of life,” the city and its contrasts, with all its odd inhabitants.