15 PAINTINGS by Russian artists about fairs (PICS)

Anna Popova

Jul 09 2025

This is not just a place where they traded everything that could be useful in the household, but also the center of social life. This is how Russian artists depicted life at fairs.

The first fairs in Old Rus' began to be held in the 10th-11th centuries and, from the 14th century, they became an integral part of life. You could buy almost everything at them: from household utensils and clothes to silk carpets, peltry and furs, stock up on provisions and look for a cow, a songbird or a horse. They sold not only local, but also foreign products. And there, people also made useful contacts, concluded deals, looked for suitors, found out the latest news. And, of course, had fun!

Fairs featured buffoons and circus performers, booth theaters and amusement rides. They were held all year round and were often timed to coincide with major religious holidays – Epiphany, Annunciation and others.

Maslenitsa festivities also did not go without a fair and, during the first week of Lent, a special mushroom market would be held in Moscow.