This photograph was taken in Moscow, in Trunov’s photo studio, in the fall of 1893. In the picture are Anton Chekhov and two of his friends: the actress Lydia Borisovna Yavorskaya and the writer and translator Tatiana Lvovna Shchepkina-Kupernik. The shot was taken during a photo session for a small book of stories by Chekhov and Shchepkina-Kupernik, which was supplemented with portraits of the authors. The book was published by the editor of “The Artist” magazine Fyodor Kumanin, referred to as Sapyega in Chekhov’s correspondence.

The story of this photograph is told in the memoirs of Tatiana Shchepkina-Kupernik:

The writer chose this title not only because it resembled the story, but also inspired by a two-week stay in Moscow in the fall of 1893. Having arrived from Melikhovo, Chekhov stayed at the Great Moscow Hotel. The news of this spread around Moscow with lightning speed, a large company gathered, and began to honor the guest. That was followed by visits from one editorial office to another, restaurants, dinners, theaters, and literary gatherings.

Chekhov was honored so intensely that someone jokingly compared him to Admiral Avelan. Fyodor Avelan led a Russian squadron sent to France on a friendly visit on the occasion of the conclusion of the Franco-Russian alliance. Owing to the Franco-Russian friendship, Vice-Admiral Avelan was continuously honored both in Russia and in France. Chekhov’s group of friends and acquaintances called themselves the “Avelan squadron” and referred to their activities and journeys as “sailing”. Both of Chekhov’s friends, Tatiana Schepkina-Kupernik and Lydia Yavorskaya, joined this circle with ease enjoying the atmosphere of fun, youth, play, creative improvisation. Tatyana was 19 and Lydia was 22. Like the others, the girls got their friendly nicknames: “Fantasy” and “Poetry”.