All cholera is to blame Pavel Fedotov (1815-1852)

The composition presents a domestic interior disrupted by a stark and unsettling event. A group of formally dressed individuals is engaged in what appears to be a leisurely meal; they are seated around a table laden with food and drink. The lighting is warm and artificial, emanating from wall-mounted lamps and a central chandelier, creating an atmosphere of comfortable affluence. However, this sense of normalcy is violently fractured by the presence of a corpse lying prone on the floor in the foreground.
The deceased figure, clad in what seems to be a striped garment, is positioned directly beneath the table, drawing immediate attention. The head has rolled away from the body, and its placement suggests a deliberate staging rather than an accidental fall. A newspaper lies clutched in the hand of one of the seated men; the visible text hints at a report concerning cholera, providing a contextual link to the tragedy.
The reactions of the diners are varied and revealing. Some appear oblivious or indifferent to the gruesome scene unfolding before them, continuing their meal with an unsettling composure. Others display expressions ranging from mild curiosity to outright shock. A woman seated near the corpse seems particularly distressed, her posture conveying a sense of dismay and perhaps guilt. The man holding the newspaper appears to be the focal point of the narrative, his expression suggesting a mixture of concern and detached observation.
The artist’s use of perspective and lighting contributes significantly to the paintings unsettling effect. The low angle emphasizes the corpses vulnerability and underscores its intrusion into the otherwise ordered space. The warm tones of the interior contrast sharply with the pallor of the deceased, further highlighting the disruption of life and death.
Subtly, the work seems to critique societal indifference in the face of widespread suffering. The continued enjoyment of a privileged class is juxtaposed against the stark reality of mortality, suggesting a commentary on social responsibility and the potential for denial when confronted with uncomfortable truths. The newspaper’s reference to cholera implies that this death, while tragic, might be attributed to external factors rather than systemic issues or personal failings. This attribution serves as a means of distancing oneself from culpability, allowing the diners to maintain their comfortable existence despite the presence of death.