Nostalgia by Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii

In 1909, the color photography pioneer Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii set off on his six-year journey to capture all of Russia in color images on behalf of Czar Nicolas II. He was provided with a specially equipped railroad-car darkroom and necessary permits by the czar to travel cross-country and develop astounding images on the move. Not only do Prokudin-Gorskii's images document the diverse ethnicities and folklore of a vast empire, but also capture its natural landscapes and structures ranging from medieval churches and monasteries to railroads and factories.

As Print Magazine described, “in the age of Instagram, the work of Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii looks utterly contemporary… A rare opportunity to see the past not as we imagine it but as it was–vibrant, colorful, and alive.” His expert use of color and skilled eye make his images especially vibrant and timeless. Even a century later, they have not lost any of their original beauty and intensity. 

Over 250 of these early masterpieces are captured in Nostalgia (Gestalten, 2012)

A selection of images are available as fine art prints.