Tambov, Russia, about 1905. I posted a photo of Pavel and Nina K.—the parents of my paternal Grandmother, Tatjana—when I first started the blog. The image was one my Dad had rephotographed. Dad had zoomed in on the subjects' faces, cropping out a good part of the photo.
I recently found the original print stored in the envelope called "Babos šeima Rusijoi"—Grandma's family in Russia. I post the image here: the original gives a better view of my Great-Grandparents, sitting in front of their house. Pavel has a newspaper on his lap, and Nina K. holds some work; I wonder if it's mending.
5 comments:
I'm always fascinated by the number of log cabins (for lack of a better term) in Russia up through WWII. Any special reason or just the poverty of the general populace?
PS Great you have such an old photo in your collection.
I remember one of my grandmother holding one of my uncles (very 1890s) as a baby and one of my grandfather, but that's all I ever saw.
You're very lucky to have such a record for your forebears.
I think the use of wood was cultural, not related to economics. My Great-Grandfather was well off: he was one of the Tsar's fourteen governors, and he was a friend of Tolstoy's.
Woodcarving has deep roots in Eastern European traditions. See, for example, also here: http://amberreunion.blogspot.com/2012/01/every-now-and-then-blind-squirrel-finds.html.
The homes also were log on the outside, but the interiors were modern and drywalled.
Most of my knowledge of Russian culture is from Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky, so my ignorance will occasionally shine on through.
Those are good authors on whom to rely.
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