I’ve seen [these photographs][tp] a half dozen times over the years, but every time I see them, I am impressed not only by the richness of the color but also by the view into late nineteenth-century life in Europe. (Obviously, Russia, but I imagine the images of peasant life reflect larger patterns.)

And here’s the header note:
> In 1909 a remarkable project was initiated by Russian photographer Sergey Mikhaylovich Prokudin-Gorsky. His mission was to record – in full and vibrant color – the vast and diverse Russian Empire
[tp]: http://quazen.com/arts/photography/the-incredible-century-old-color-photography-of-prokudin-gorsky/