Where there is work and it is dense, but in a lazy house it is empty Vladimir Taburin (1870-1954)

The composition presents a domestic interior, likely intended as promotional material given the prominent display of a sewing machine bearing a recognizable brand name. The scene is populated by several young girls engaged in various household tasks. A central focus lies on three figures clustered around the sewing machine; one operates it while the others appear to be assisting or observing. Their attire suggests a rural, working-class background, with headscarves and simple garments predominating.
To the left of the sewing machine area, a young girl stands near a stove, seemingly tending to a pot suspended over the heat. The presence of this cooking activity reinforces the theme of domestic labor. Further into the room, another girl is occupied with mending clothes, utilizing scissors and thread. This detail underscores the importance of resourcefulness and repair within a household likely operating on limited means.
The color palette is warm and earthy, dominated by reds, browns, and yellows, which contribute to an overall sense of coziness and traditional values. Light streams in from an unseen source, illuminating the figures and highlighting their activities. The arrangement of objects – the sewing machine, the stove, the mending supplies – suggests a carefully constructed narrative about industriousness and family life.
The inscription at the bottom, rendered in Cyrillic script, reinforces this message: Where there is work and it is dense, but in a lazy house it is empty. This textual element serves as a direct moralizing statement, equating diligence with prosperity and idleness with poverty. The painting’s purpose was clearly to promote not only the sewing machine itself, but also an ideology of hard work and domestic responsibility. Its likely intended to appeal to families who might be considering acquiring such a device, framing it as a tool for economic advancement and upholding traditional values.