Robinson Crusoe by Taras Shevchenko

This drawing is an illustration of the literary character Robinson Crusoe, created in 1856 by the Ukrainian artist and writer Taras Shevchenko. The artwork is done on paper using sepia and bistre and is part of the collection at the Taras Shevchenko National Museum in Kyiv, Ukraine. Shevchenko was known to have a high appreciation for Daniel Defoe and his novel "Robinson Crusoe," and even advised both children and adults to read the book. The drawing shows Crusoe, depicted with long hair and a hat, seated in a cave and reading a book. A goat can be seen behind him. The work was created during Shevchenko's exile, a period in which he was forbidden from writing or drawing. The artist was a prominent figure of the Ukrainian national revival.