Auguste Raffet, Femmes Tatars en Bessarabie, Lithograph, 1842

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Lithograph on paper realized by Auguste Raffet in 1842. It is part of the suite "Crimée". The scene depicts a … Read more Lithograph on paper realized by Auguste Raffet in 1842. It is part of the suite "Crimée". The scene depicts a group of Tatar women, standing together in a courtyard-like space. The contrast between veiled and unveiled attire illustrates the variety of customs within the Tatar communities of Bessarabia during the 19th century. This print is a valuable visual record of the ethnic and cultural diversity of the Russian Empire’s southwestern provinces in the 1830s and 1840s. Image dimension cm. 28x21. Signed and dated in the plate. Very good condition. Auguste Raffet was a leading French lithographer and illustrator, initially trained by Théodore Géricault. While best known for military and historical scenes, he also produced many Orientalist and travel-themed lithographs during the 1830s–1850s, especially during expeditions to Russia, the Crimea, and the Ottoman Empire. This work was created during his collaboration with Anatole de Demidoff for the illustrated travel atlas Voyage dans la Russie méridionale et la Crimée (published 1840–42 by Gihaut Frères in Paris). In that atlas, Raffet depicted not only landscapes and costumes but also funeral customs and religious sites of the region — this sheet fits within that ethnographic dimension. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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