The men in this painting are peasants, a part of a class of a caste system they will never leave. They will work to the end of their lives in this menial nowhere job. They are mere oxen or mules, harnessed, controlled, breaking their backs and spirits pulling the barges up and down the vast Volga River when there is no wind to fill the sails. They are slaves to this scene – their feet are bare or wrapped only in rags.
This great painting by Repin, Barge Haulers on the Volga, tells a hopeless story that is told over and over and understood by all – the hopelessness of it all. All the figures are leaning forward stooped over by the back breaking, endless labor. Their faces, necks and hands are leather burnt crisp by the sun. Their eyes are empty and lost. The lone young man is new to the group, a new recruit. He is being broken. He stands upright because he still can. His spirit may not yet be broken; he still may manage to have hoped that somehow he can manage to find a better life. His skin is light and fresh – yet to be worn out, but being reddened burnt by the harsh sun. An image or icon of hope may be the small cross worn around his neck. He adjusts the strap, his harness is uncomfortable and he struggles with it.
The rest of the group has given up – the only struggle they see is to pull. This great large painting by Repin says volumes about the culture and ways of this type of peasant life. This way of life has gone on for generations and will continue to do so – these men are poor slaves to a way of life. Off in the distance there is a small accent or detail to the painting, a plume of smoke shows evidence of a new steamship. This new invention will revolutionize this whole scene one day. In the future the sails of these barges will be replaced with steam and power making this hard journey obsolete.
The colors and harmony used by Repin show the heat, the stress and strain of the environment, this utter desperation is felt by the viewer. Life is so hard and worn out in this listless scene of no wind and no hope. A great story of emotion and pain is seen and felt in this huge painting by Ilya Repin.
Navicula gives on the barge type as follows:
She is a”rasschiva” a boat type used on the River Volga and Caspian Sea from the end of the 18th century till the begin of the 19th century.
She has a mast with a height of 20-30m and rigged with a square sail, as seen on the painting on the left in the background.
Deadweight between 100 to 500 tons, dim. Length 30-50m., beam 10-12 m., draught 1.2 – 1.8m.
Russia 1956 40k sg 1999, scott1866.
Russia 1956 40k sg 1999, scott1866.
http://www.paintersjourneyblog.com/2012 ... the-volga/
Update:
From my Russian contact I received also the following stamps which depicts “rasschiva” type Russian boats.
Central African republic 2013 2650F sg?, scott?
Mozambique 2014 46.00MT in margin of MS. sgMS?, scott?
Russia 1997 1000r sg?, scott?
He give also that the flag on the ship is painted upside down, the correct colours are white, blue and red.