Western Art Movements I Art Movements    

Lesson 27: Realism - Troika Apprentices Fetch Water (1866)

by Vasily Perov

Directions

Study the artwork for one week.

Over the week:

• Examine the artwork.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Recite the artist and artwork names.
• Read about the artwork's movement.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

The third example of Realism, Vasily Perov's 1866 painting 'Troika Apprentices Fetch Water,' tackles the bleak reality of child labor. The painting shows three grim child apprentices wearing tattered clothing and battling the icy wind and gravity to heave a barrel uphill. One male adult, possibly their master, strains to help them by pushing. Another man wrapped in cloth, trudges with the wind in the other direction. A shaggy dog bares his teeth in a snarl against the harsh elements and bounds alongside the children. A few withered leaves cling to the branches of a bare plant bent by the whipping wind. A stick protrudes from the barrel, perhaps used to break up ice. Birds soar overhead through the gray, dismal sky, which partially obscures the city buildings in the background. The viewer can only hope a crackling fire and hot meals await the painting subjects at the end of the day.

Vocabulary

Troika: A Russian carriage drawn by a team of three horses abreast.
Apprentice: A trainee, especially in a skilled trade.

Concepts

Featured Movement:

1. Name - Realism
2. Timeline - approximately 1830-1900

Realism Characteristics and Subjects:

1. Everyday Life ('The Chess Players' by Honoré Daumier in 1863)

2. People from All Walks of Life ('The Gleaners' by Jean-François Millet in 1857)

3. Hardship ('Visit to the Poor' by Vladimir Makovsky in 1874)

4. Encroachment of Industrialization on Nature ('Pariser Vorstadt' by Jean-François Raffaëlli circa 1880/1890)

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Find the following in the artwork:

• A Troika
• Apprentice Master
• Apprentices
• Something Snarling
• Something Bent by the Wind
• Someone Walking with the Wind
• Someone Walking Against the Wind
• Something Obscured by the Clouds
• Something Flying
• Icicles
• Barrels
• Something Dismal

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

• After studying the artwork, narrate the scene shown aloud using your own words.

Activity 3: Classify the Artwork

• This artwork belongs to the Realist art movement.
• Find Realism on the timeline.
• During which (estimated) years did Realism flourish?
• Which art movement preceded Realism?
• Which art movement followed Realism?

Activity 4: Recreate the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above and complete page 30 of 'Fourth Grade Art History Coloring Book.'

Review

Question 1

Who are the characters in the artwork?

1 / 6

Answer 1

The characters are the apprentices, their master, and another man walking in the other direction.

1 / 6

Question 2

What is the setting of the artwork?

2 / 6

Answer 2

The setting is on a road in a city on a windy, icy day.

2 / 6

Question 3

What might the artist have hoped to accomplish with this artwork?

3 / 6

Answer 3

This artwork draws attention to the plight of child laborers.

3 / 6

Question 4

To which western art movement does this painting belong?

4 / 6

Answer 4

This painting belongs to the Realist art movement.

4 / 6

Question 5

How is this painting reflective of Realism?

5 / 6

Answer 5

Realism portrays people from all walks of life and those undergoing hardships, such as the child laborers and their apprentice master in the artwork.

5 / 6

Question 6

During which century was this artwork created?

6 / 6

Answer 6

Perov painted this artwork in the 19th century.

6 / 6

❮ ❯

1. Who are the characters in the artwork? The characters are the apprentices, their master, and another man walking in the other direction.
2. What is the setting of the artwork? The setting is on a road in a city on a windy, icy day.
3. What might the artist have hoped to accomplish with this artwork? This artwork draws attention to the plight of child laborers.
4. To which western art movement does this painting belong? This painting belongs to the Realist art movement.
5. How is this painting reflective of Realism? Realism portrays people from all walks of life and those undergoing hardships, such as the child laborers and their apprentice master in the artwork.
6. During which century was this artwork created? Perov painted this artwork in the 19th century.

References

'Realism (art movement).' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Realism (arts).' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.