Russia of the XIX century through the eyes of a Scottish photographer

Edinburgh photographer named William Carrick was the first ethnographer who managed to capture the everyday life of the Russian Empire in the collection of masterful photographs.

A man posing for a photograph, playfully looking to the side, performing a particularly intricate passage, the balalaika is a traditional Russian stringed instrument. He had a pipe in his mouth, and standing next to a bottle of some drink, probably vodka. If the photoblog Humans of New York existed in the XIX century in the Russian Empire, this photograph would fit perfectly for him.

Musician playing the balalaika

A musician, a variety of vendors, beggars, janitors, milkmaids, craftsmen, chimney — all these characters are included in the collection of the Russian "street types", which was masterfully captured by the camera of Scottish photographer and artist William Carrick (1827-1878).

The woman-the woman

Carrick opened his first photo Studio in Saint-Petersburg on Malaya Morskaya street in 1859 and created this series of photos over the next year. To realize his idea, he had to take a trip across the vast country.

Water pot

In the second half of the XIX century in Russia there was interest in Ethnography and anthropology. At the same time, increasing possibilities of the photographic equipment made the most perfect camera and fairly accurate tool for fixing the environment.

A government official

Loaded with lots of equipment for filming, Carrick made several photographic expeditions. He started with the environs of St. Petersburg, Tver and Nizhny Novgorod, and then went to Finland, which in those days was part of the Russian Empire. The photographer also traveled along the Volga and visited many provincial towns on the banks of major Russian rivers.

A group of girls in traditional peasant costumes

Sex in a restaurant

Photos of Carrick acquired great fame, and they can be purchased in Russia and abroad. In 1862 a collection of his work was presented to the Grand Duke and heir to the Russian throne, Nicholas Alexandrovich, who was awarded photographer, giving him a diamond ring.

Peasants on horseback

The janitor

The fruit merchant

Cleaver

The woman-the old believer

Peasants in their carts

The trooper

Beggar

Thrush

Girl and married woman in festive outfits

Woman rinsing linen

The peasants on the sled

A street vendor sells birch bark baskets

Boys-peddlers (street vendors)

The woman-the woman in elegant suit