Leo Tolstoy is 25 years old in this photo. This was the time of the writer searching for his true purpose in life, an arduous trial for his soul, mind and will. The photograph captured one of the moods typical of young Tolstoy, when he often found himself at the mercy of false ideals, dreaming of “making it into high society” or making a military career.

A casual pose, a chic overcoat with a beaver collar thrown over his shoulders, with epaulet on display — Tolstoy has just received the rank of praporshchik (junior officer rank). His gaze, according to Ivan Bunin, is “cold and arrogant”. On the same day, a photo was taken of Leo Tolstoy with three of his older brothers: Nikolai, Sergei and Dmitry. This is the only photo of them together.

The picture was taken following Tolstoy’s return from the Caucasus and before leaving for the Danube Army. Leo Tolstoy entered military service in 1852. He was a feuerwerker, commanded an artillery cannon and was later promoted to praporshchik. Leo Tolstoy took part in the Crimean War of 1853–1856, he himself asked to be transferred to besieged Sevastopol in order to see the war with his own eyes.

Leo Tolstoy commanded an artillery battery and was decorated for bravery with the 4th degree Order of Anna, and two medals: “For the defense of Sevastopol” and “In Memory of the War of 1853–1856”. Tolstoy’s stories “Sevastopol in December”, “Sevastopol in May” and “Sevastopol in August 1855” became an artistic monument to the heroic defense of Sevastopol.

This picture is also the first image of Tolstoy as a writer. By this time, his first work — the novel “Childhood” — was published in the “Sovremennik” magazine. The literary community and the editor-in-chief of the magazine Nikolay Nekrasov highly praised his first works, and from that moment on Tolstoy began his artistic journey and found his purpose in life.