Silhouette. From the book. Silhouettes of childrens lives. Boy with goats. 1877 Elizabeth Merkuryevna Boehm (Endaurova) (1843-1914)

The drawing presents a stark contrast between light and dark, utilizing silhouette technique to depict a rural scene. Here we see a young boy standing beside a rudimentary structure that appears to be a small shed or enclosure. He is accompanied by two goats, which are positioned slightly ahead of him, moving towards the viewers left. The setting seems to be a hillside, suggested by the uneven ground and the vegetation growing from it.
The composition is dominated by the dark shapes of the figures and foliage against the white background. This creates an immediate sense of drama and emphasizes the outlines rather than detailed features. The boy’s posture suggests attentiveness or perhaps a watchful stance as he tends to the goats. His head is tilted slightly, hinting at engagement with something beyond the frame.
The structure beside him provides a sense of enclosure and protection, potentially symbolizing home or security. The surrounding vegetation, rendered in rough strokes, evokes a natural, untamed environment. The uneven ground adds to this impression of a rural landscape, possibly suggesting labor or hardship associated with pastoral life.
Subtly, the drawing conveys themes of childhood responsibility and connection to nature. The boy’s role as a caretaker implies an early introduction to work and duty within a rural setting. The goats themselves can be interpreted as symbols of sustenance and livelihood. The overall effect is one of quiet observation, capturing a fleeting moment in the life of a child immersed in a simple, agrarian existence. The starkness of the silhouette technique lends a timeless quality to the scene, suggesting universal experiences across generations.