Silhouette. Types of Sketches Turgenev Burmistr 1883. 3 Elizabeth Merkuryevna Boehm (Endaurova) (1843-1914)

The drawing presents a scene constructed around a central, roughly hewn structure that appears to be a makeshift dwelling or stall. It is composed of vertical elements – likely poles or branches – bound together with what seems like fabric strips and twine. A small table stands adjacent, holding a bowl and other indistinct objects. The entire arrangement rests upon a bed of tangled vegetation, rendered with quick, expressive strokes suggesting both density and disarray.
The artist’s use of line is particularly noteworthy. Theres an immediacy to the execution; lines are not clean or precise but rather energetic and somewhat hesitant, conveying a sense of spontaneity and observation. The shading is minimal, relying on variations in line weight to suggest form and depth. This contributes to a feeling of sketchiness, as if the scene were rapidly captured from life.
To the right of the central composition, a block of Cyrillic text occupies a significant portion of the space. Its presence suggests that this drawing is an illustration accompanying written material – likely narrative in nature. The placement of the text alongside the visual element implies a close relationship between them; the image serves to complement and perhaps illuminate the story being told.
The overall impression is one of rustic simplicity and perhaps marginal existence. The rough construction of the structure, its precarious placement within the tangled vegetation, and the lack of ornamentation all contribute to this sense of austerity. Theres a quiet dignity in the scene, however; it doesn’t feel overtly melancholic or impoverished but rather presents a straightforward depiction of a particular way of life.
The inclusion of what appears to be a small, stylized representation of a hat at the bottom right corner introduces an element of whimsy and perhaps a subtle commentary on the subject matter – a detail that might relate to the character described in the accompanying text. The drawing’s subtexts likely revolve around themes of rural life, social standing (implied by the presence of the burmistr mentioned in the text), and the relationship between visual representation and narrative storytelling.