Russian Women Washing Linen and Russian Peasants with a Distaff, 1842

An original antique lithograph, hand colored, from the Galleria Universale di Tutti i Popoli del Mondo (Venice, Giuseppe Antonelli, 1842). The upper image shows two Russian women at a riverbank: one stands on a wooden landing stage in a tall gold patterned headdress, white full sleeved blouse and pink sarafan with an embroidered front band, a yellow cloth over her arm; the other kneels on the bank in a red cap, yellow bodice and violet skirt, wringing linen in the water, a basket of washing beside her, with log houses, a fence and trees behind. The lower image shows, under a tree, a seated woman in a yellow head scarf and a pleated crimson bodice over a white blouse, holding up a distaff of flax; a standing woman in a white veil, green bodice and striped shawl; and a bearded man in a dark hat, white shirt and leg wrappings, a blue coat slung over his shoulder and a staff under his arm, holding a small horn in his hands.

The top margin is lettered "Tom. IV", "RUSSIA" and "Tav. 95". Under the upper image: "Donne Russe" (Russian women). Under the lower image: "Contadini Russi" (Russian peasants).

The sarafan, a long sleeveless pinafore dress, and the kokoshnik, a tall rigid headdress often embroidered or set with pearls, were the traditional festive dress of Russian women. The distaff held the prepared flax or wool while it was spun into thread by hand.

The river scene and village houses give this plate a gentle, pastoral feeling.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.