Street village view (back). Illustration for the book by Z. M. Slavyanova (1921) Nikolay Feshin (1881-1955)

The work presents a view of a rural settlement, seemingly captured from a slightly elevated perspective looking towards the rear of dwellings. The composition is dominated by the close-up depiction of a wooden structure, likely a house or workshop, whose weathered facade occupies much of the left side of the frame. Its construction appears rudimentary; the logs are roughly hewn and fitted together with visible gaps, suggesting a vernacular architecture characteristic of rural communities. A single window, framed in dark wood, is prominently positioned, its panes missing or broken, offering a glimpse into an obscured interior.
Beyond this immediate foreground, a network of other buildings stretches back into the distance, their forms softened by atmospheric perspective and rendered with looser brushstrokes. The color palette leans towards muted earth tones – browns, grays, and ochres – punctuated by patches of pale blue in the sky and hints of green foliage. A slender tree trunk rises from behind the closest building, its branches reaching upwards, adding a vertical element to the composition.
The artist’s technique emphasizes texture and light. The wood grain is suggested through delicate washes and dry brushstrokes, while the play of light across the surfaces creates a sense of depth and volume. Theres an intentional lack of sharp detail; forms are suggested rather than precisely defined, contributing to a feeling of transience and perhaps even melancholy.
Given its context as an illustration for a book published in 1921, the scene likely aims to document or evoke a particular time and place – potentially reflecting the social and economic conditions of rural life following significant historical upheaval. The dilapidated state of the buildings, the absence of human figures, and the overall muted color scheme could be interpreted as symbolic of hardship, resilience, or a sense of loss. The view from the back of the village suggests an exploration of hidden aspects of community life, moving beyond idealized representations to reveal a more complex reality. It is possible that the work intends to portray a rural landscape undergoing transformation, hinting at themes of modernization and displacement.