Is it my fault that I love soldier Elizabeth Merkuryevna Boehm (Endaurova) (1843-1914)

The drawing presents a young girl embracing a wooden toy soldier. The composition is intimate and centered on this interaction, with the figure filling most of the frame. The childs expression is one of unguarded joy; her eyes sparkle, and a broad smile reveals youthful innocence. She leans into the soldier, almost as if seeking comfort or solace in its presence.
The toy soldier itself appears stiff and formal, contrasting sharply with the girl’s emotional outpouring. Its uniform suggests military authority, yet it is rendered in miniature, diminishing its power and emphasizing its role as a plaything. The color palette is muted, dominated by earth tones – browns, creams, and reds – which contribute to a sense of nostalgia and perhaps melancholy.
Beneath the image, Cyrillic script appears, adding another layer of meaning. While the exact translation isnt provided, its presence suggests a personal narrative or confession tied to the scene depicted. The text seems to express a feeling of guilt or questioning regarding affection for the soldier – a sentiment that complicates the seemingly straightforward depiction of childhood innocence.
The drawing’s subtexts are complex and potentially unsettling. It hints at a possible conflation of love, duty, and perhaps even trauma. The girls attachment to the toy soldier could be interpreted as an early exposure to themes of war or national identity, filtered through the lens of childish affection. The text implies that this affection is not entirely uncomplicated; it carries with it a sense of internal conflict or societal pressure. The image evokes a feeling of vulnerability and suggests a deeper emotional landscape beneath the surface of childhood play.