Prokudin-Gorskii made two trips to Russia’s Central Asian territories. In 1906 -1907, he traveled to the Tian-Shan Mountains to document a solar eclipse and explore the ancient Silk Road towns of Bukhara and Samarkand. Again in 1911, Prokudin-Gorskii visited Central Asia, this time under the commission of Tsar Nicholas II.

The Imperial government provided him with a specially equipped railroad car, as well as permits and passes to access restricted areas. Prokudin-Gorskii traveled along the recently constructed Trans-Caspian Railroad and visited the towns of Merv, Bukhara, and Samarkand, capturing masterful images of the nomadic peoples, legendary buildings, residents and merchants at the heart of the Silk Road.

Happening Now

Monumental Soviet Paintings

Saturday, April 12, 2025 - Sunday, September 21, 2025

Monumental Soviet Paintings post image
Russia’s Native Mushrooms: Botanical Watercolors by Alexander Viazmensky post image

Chemiakin’s Worlds

Saturday, March 15, 2025 - Sunday, June 22, 2025

Chemiakin’s Worlds post image

Geometric Abstraction: Selections from the Kolodzei Art Foundation Collection

Saturday, February 1, 2025 - Sunday, June 1, 2025

Geometric Abstraction: Selections from the Kolodzei Art Foundation Collection post image
Say No to War: Political Cartoons by Ukrainian and Russian Artists – The 4th Iteration post image
The Permanent Collection Gallery post image