Barge haulers beyond Russia and Georges Daoud Corm’s 1935 painting “Galershchiki”

Barge Haulers on the Nile.

Yes, barge haulers existed not only in Russia: the poorest men towed boats upstream, straining at the harness, in France, Belgium, Egypt and other countries, and in some places this form of employment survived until the 1930s.

As proof that the destitute in different corners of the world may live equally wretchedly, here is the painting "Galley Slaves" (1935) by the Lebanese artist Georges Daoud Corm (1896-1971), painted on the banks of the Nile. The painting was donated to the Sursock Museum collection by Corm's heirs.

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September digest: archaeological finds, exhibitions, museums, theatre and the Church

In the finale of the Strugatskys' Roadside Picnic, the Golden Ball is told: "Happiness for everybody, free, and let nobody go away unsatisfied!" I do not promise to offend nobody, but the digest really does come free of charge. So, here is the main business of the

Frederic Leighton

Frederic Leighton. “Daedalus and Icarus”, 1869 Daedalus warns his son not to climb too high: the heat of the sun may melt the wax, but Icarus is already gazing into the distance, and the lamentations of a foolish old man interest him not in the least

Barge haulers beyond Russia and Georges Daoud Corm’s 1935 painting “Galershchiki”

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September digest: archaeological finds, exhibitions, museums, theatre and the Church

Frederic Leighton

Attempts to resolve the problems of many years of uncontrolled mass migration

Characters from Gogol's "Petersburg Tales" on the pedestal of the monument to Nikolai Gogol on Nikitsky Boulevard, photograph of the 1960s