Until the voyages of Vitus Bering in the second quarter of 18th century, the north-western extent of the North American continent remained a blank spot on maps and in the European and American imagination. Capturing this unknown world in images, words and charts was the first call of business for the early Russian explorers, and a crucial step in both understanding and appropriating Alaska. From 1743 until 1867, over a dozen artists travelled to Alaska on voyages sponsored by the Russian Crown and the Russian-American Company. Their pencils and brushes captured peoples and places of Alaska, but also reflected individual perceptions of each artist and the traits of their time. In a sense, these images are cultural palimpsests containing many layers of information both about the subject of artwork and the historical context in which they were created.  Published in the accounts of scientific expeditions, many of this artwork captivated readers in Russia, the US and Europe, and “delivered” Alaska to the world’s capitals, thousands of miles away, shaping public and political opinions about Alaska and forging powerful perceptions about its cultural and socio-political identity. It can be argued, that the very concept that the vast expanse of land from Chukchi Sea to Sitka inhabited by dozens of Native nations could be seen as one socio-political unit was introduced and defined by the colonial efforts of the Russian American Company. Along with maps and political statements, the artistic record was instrumental in delivering this concept. Depicting Alaska’s varied natural settings and a rich array of Native cultures, the artists of Russian America projected an image of incredible diversity and richness, and at the same time presented it as a single entity. The cumulative effect of these images went far beyond a mere collection of exotic views and portraits – it formed a powerful concept of Alaska as a place that despite its environmental and cultural diversity had a shared identity and a geographical, political and cultural entity. In many ways, this vision of Alaska as a multi-cultural unity remains at the core of the modern identity of the state.

The collection of images presented here is not a comprehensive body of all artwork created during the time when Russia called Alaska its land. Rather, this is a visual guide to the images of this period and the artists who created them.  In selecting the images the preference was given to the representation of people, places, and objects which can enhance understanding of cultural history of Alaska.  Drawings and watercolors of flora and fauna, although both beautiful and informative, were not included. Images of coastline recorded for navigational purposes are represented by just a few examples. The images are organized in two ways: the list of artwork following individual artists biographies introduces personal artistic accomplishments, while the interactive map allows for review of representation of particular geographical locations.

The ultimate goal of this project is to foster understanding and appreciation of the artistic legacy of Russian America and to make this legacy more accessible for both scholars and general public.  The images included in this site are reproduced with special permission of copyright holding organizations and can be used for research and teaching purposes.  Please contact appropriate museums and archives if you wish to use these images for further publication or distribution.   

This website is created by Evguenia Anichtchenko in collaboration with the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center and with the financial support from the Alaska Historical Commission and Cook Inlet Historical Society. The design and technical assistance was provided by flexalex.com.