The study displays a copy of Alexander Zemtsov’s illustration ‘Pila and Sysoyko at Aproska’s Grave’ made for to the novel “PodlIpovtsy” by the Urals writer Fyodor Reshetnikov. The illustration depicts one of the climax scenes of the story. The main characters, peasants Pila and Sysoyko have just buried Pila’s daughter Aproska and bid their final farewell to her: ‘Aproska, she should have lived to see another day, and there she is…, ' said a tearful Pila.<…> Suddenly, Sysoyko heard a groan from beneath the ground, he ran and tripped over a stump! 'Nice flip! ' Pila laughed. 'Shush! Ouch, shush! ' shouted Sysoyko’.
Then something really strange and frightening happened: ‘Pila heard groans and knocks from the grave… A cold shiver ran down his spine, he could not move his feet… A deep, long groan resembling a squeal came from the grave. Pila ran. Having reached the gate, he screamed: “Sysoyko! There”s trouble! ” <…> “Is it Aproska? ” Pila said suddenly. 'What the hell! Come on… damn! Come on, let”s look over there, ” Pila tried to persuade Sysoyko. Sysoyko wouldn”t move”.
The author’s view, expressed in the words of the narrator, remained behind the scenes: ‘Aproska, so much loved by Pila and Sysoyko, was buried alive. What would have happened to them if she had woken up from lethargy while Pila got along with the rope tying the coffin. They would have probably run away, or maybe they would have killed her’. After Aproska’s death, Pila and Sysoyko could no longer live in the village of PodlIpnaya. In the end, they left this deadly place and went faraway to do what they never known, to haul barges.
The author of the illustration, Alexander Zemtsov, studied at St. Petersburg Academy of Arts. For his drawings from nature and sketches, he received many academic medals, small and big silver ones. In 1880-1890s he made drawings for magazines, such as Vsemirnaya Illyustratsiya (International Illustration), ZhivopIsnoye Obozreniye (Pictorial Review), Nov (The New), and Niva (Plow Field). Zemtsov illustrated the works of Alexander Pushkin, MikhaIl Lermontov, Leo Tolstoy, Kondratiy Ryleyev. He also participated in making illustrations for the “Big Book of Works by Alexander Pushkin” and the anniversary book dedicated to the centenary of the poet.
Then something really strange and frightening happened: ‘Pila heard groans and knocks from the grave… A cold shiver ran down his spine, he could not move his feet… A deep, long groan resembling a squeal came from the grave. Pila ran. Having reached the gate, he screamed: “Sysoyko! There”s trouble! ” <…> “Is it Aproska? ” Pila said suddenly. 'What the hell! Come on… damn! Come on, let”s look over there, ” Pila tried to persuade Sysoyko. Sysoyko wouldn”t move”.
The author’s view, expressed in the words of the narrator, remained behind the scenes: ‘Aproska, so much loved by Pila and Sysoyko, was buried alive. What would have happened to them if she had woken up from lethargy while Pila got along with the rope tying the coffin. They would have probably run away, or maybe they would have killed her’. After Aproska’s death, Pila and Sysoyko could no longer live in the village of PodlIpnaya. In the end, they left this deadly place and went faraway to do what they never known, to haul barges.
The author of the illustration, Alexander Zemtsov, studied at St. Petersburg Academy of Arts. For his drawings from nature and sketches, he received many academic medals, small and big silver ones. In 1880-1890s he made drawings for magazines, such as Vsemirnaya Illyustratsiya (International Illustration), ZhivopIsnoye Obozreniye (Pictorial Review), Nov (The New), and Niva (Plow Field). Zemtsov illustrated the works of Alexander Pushkin, MikhaIl Lermontov, Leo Tolstoy, Kondratiy Ryleyev. He also participated in making illustrations for the “Big Book of Works by Alexander Pushkin” and the anniversary book dedicated to the centenary of the poet.
