Nikolay Karazin’s Magazine Graphics for the Samara Expedition of 1879

The article analyzes the graphic series of the artist N.N. Karazin, prepared by him on the basis of the Samara scientific expedition to Central Asia in 1879, and published in the magazines “Niva” and “World Illustration” in 1879 and 1880, respectively. These series have not yet been considered by art historians, which makes relevant this study, as well as the artistic development of the topic of Central Asian ethnography in general. The author applies the method of comparative analysis; uses fragments of literary works by N.N. Karazin himself (ethnographic essays from the mentioned magazines), as well as by other writers and researchers of Central Asia; and offers new interpretations of some traditional types of Central Asian society (hajji, mullah, bacha).

The article opens with an analysis of a series of art works from the magazine “World Illustration” in 1880, which shows all the main stages of the expedition (indicating geographical objects and settlements) and presents the most complete and detailed ethnographic material.

The graphic series, published in the magazine “Niva” in 1879, includes four engravings depicting Turkmens from the Teke clan, which are already beyond the scope of ethnographic sketches and can be awarded the status of ethnographic paintings.

The article shows that N.N. Karazin’s methods of work during this period, as well as during his participation in the Amu Darya scientific expedition in 1874, allow us to consider him as a representative of the voyage pittoresque (pictorial journey) genre in Russia in the second half of the 19th century.

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