Sociology of Everyday Life: Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878 through the Eyes of Artists

Abstract

The study examines the place and role of the work of artists at the headquarters of the armies and in the media during the Russian-Turkish war of 1877–1878. Sketches and detailed sketches were necessary as visual documents for reports in the military department, for publication in the Russian periodical press and for personal use of high-ranking officials of the belligerent army. With the beginning of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, drawings and sketches for the media were sent to the editorial offices of the capital's newspapers by writers, reporters and artists who served under conscription or were in the active army. The paper deals with a number of aspects of the social life of artists at the headquarters of the armies and in the location of the Russian troops. The research drew upon sources and materials of a sociological, historical and fine arts nature on the Russian-Turkish war of 1877–1878. The authors of the paper come up with a reasoned hypothesis about conceptual change towards the issue of admission of the media to the theater of military operations. The conclusions of the study include highlighting that it was exactly the verbal and visual content of materials about the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, contributed by artists, journalists, writers, that raised patriotic sentiments in Russia.