Ethnographic Photography of Sergei Prokudin-Gorskii and Visual Anthropology in the Russian Empire in the Early XXth Century

Visual-anthropological science is based on the knowledge about socio-cultural characteristics of different ethnic groups. Research in the field is intended to analyze the existing audiovisual materials and to create new ethnographic mediums. Development of ethnographic photography in the Russian Empire in the early XXth century pre-empted the establishment of visual anthropology. The research paper refers to the artistic works of S. M. Prokudin-Gorskii, the pioneer of color photography on the Russian territory, as ethnographic mediums with the science potential. Social communication practice suggests that photos should be investigated based not only on content or audience attitude, but also from the author’s point of view. The paper places emphasis on the similarity of exploratory perceptions of Prokudin-Gorskii and the principles of visual anthropology, introduced later than the period of photographer’s activity.