Grigory Soroka

Grigory Soroka was born as a serf in Pokrovskoye village, owned by the Milyukov family. He showed talent for drawing and painting from an early age. In 1842, he was sent to study art from Alexey Venetsianov, a famous Russian painter and the founder of the Venetsianov school. Soroka learned the principles of realism and naturalism from Venetsianov, and developed his own style of depicting the rural life and landscapes of Russia. He also mastered the techniques of portrait painting and iconography. He returned to his owner in 1847, and continued to paint in his home village. He fell in love with Lydia Milyukova, the daughter of his owner, but was forcibly married to another serf woman. He suffered from depression and alcoholism, and was unhappy with his social status and lack of freedom. After the emancipation reform of 1861, he remained under the serfdom system and was denied the right to own property or travel. He made a formal complaint, but it was rejected and he was flogged. He hanged himself in the baking room of his house in 1864. Lydia poisoned herself soon after. Soroka's paintings are highly valued for their artistic quality and historical significance. They reflect the life and culture of the Russian peasantry in the 19th century, as well as the personal feelings and struggles of the artist. Some of his most famous works are Self-portrait, Fishermen, View on the dam in Spasskoe, and Reflection in the mirror.