Along the Banks of the Volga River

Masterpieces of the Russian photography from the second half of the 19th century
in the collection of the National Library of Russia in Saint Petersburg.

Ivan (Jean) Raoult is a Franch-born photographer who lived and worked in Russia for a long time. He also used theatrical approach when taking ethnographic photographs. Raoult depicted the Russian, Tatar and Mari people who lived in Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Simbirsk in the late 1870s. His photographs capture skillfully staged and costumed scenes against the natural background. Raoul masterily combined the exotic character of national costumes and common utensils. The photographer created images that are more pictorial than documentary.

		Ivan (Jean) Raoult. A Tatar Man Wearing a Fox Hat. 1870s
Ivan (Jean) Raoult. Residents of the Nizhny Novgorod Province. 1870s	Ivan (Jean) Raoult. Nizhny Novgorod Province. At the Laid Table. 1870s
Ivan (Jean) Raoult. Kazan Province. A Tatar Couple. 1870s	Ivan (Jean) Raoult. Simbirsk Province. Two Mari Girls. 1870s