The Heroic Feat of Don Cossack Kuzma Kryuchkov During a Fight with German Cavalrymen. I. A. Morozov Chromolithography, 1914-1915. Vintage Lubok WWI.
This print showing cavalry engaged in combat is from the collection of World War I lubok posters held at the British Library. The caption explains: "A small patrol of six Cossacks crossed the Prussian border and unexpectedly stumbled upon enemy cavalry, consisting of 30 riders. Two of our Cossacks went to report to their superiors, and four stayed behind. The four were: Ostakhov, Shchegolkov, Ivankov and Kuzma Kryuchkov. They mounted their horses and rushed upon the Germans with loud war cries. Confusion stirred among the Prussians. They shouted: 'Kashlany, kashla,' which is what the Germans call the Russian Cossacks. All 30 riders fled in terror. On his frisky horse, Kuzma Kryuchkov rode in front of his companions and met an enemy unit far ahead. He stabbed the Germans with a spear, slashed them with a sword, and his horse trampled the enemy. Brave Cossack Kuzma Kryuchkov killed 11 enemy men all by himself, and the rest were killed by his comrades who arrived at the scene. Kuzma received 13 light wounds, but he quickly recovered and returned again to war. Kryuchkov was the first soldier to be awarded the Saint George's Cross during this war." Lubok is a Russian word for popular prints created from woodcuts, engravings, etchings, or later, by using lithography. The prints were often characterized by simple, colorful graphics depicting a narrative, and could also include text. Lubok gained popularity in Russia beginning in the late 17th century. The prints, which often depicted narratives from a historical event, literature, or a religious tale, were used to make such stories accessible to illiterate people.
Size: 6588px × 5115px
Location: Europe
Photo credit: © Bill Waterson / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: army, art, battle, battles, casualties, cavalry, cavalrymen, cossack, death, destruction, fear, german, great, guns, illustration, kozʹma, kri︠︡chkov, kryuchkov, lubok, military, narrative, operations, painting, poster, posters, print, prints, realistic, russia, russian, soldiers, vintage, war, weapons, world, wwi
