One of the most striking examples of critical realism in Russian painting of 1860th. In this painting, the artist attempts to draw attention of his contemporaries to the severe child exploitation and labor abuse. Choice of dull, nearly monochrome color intensifies depressing mood of the painting.

Along with earlier works, full of social criticism, condemnation of the injustice of Russian reality, during 1870th Perov creates simple household, hunting scenes.

Alexander Nikolayevich Ostrovsky (1823-1886) - famous playwright. P. Tretyakov commissioned Perov to write this portrait for gallery "Russian writers, composers, and other figures of art". Perov painted this portrait at times when he searched for moral ideals.

Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky (1821-1881) - a great writer, the most read abroad Russian author. The portrait, commissioned by P.M. Tretyakov and was created while Dostoyevsky was working on novel "Demons". For Dostoevsky contemporaries, the chosen for writer pose is reminiscing with pose of Christ in the Kramskoy painting "Christ in the desert", and that pose was not accidental.

Perov, as one of the major masters of the Peredvizhniki Association, was interested in life of simple people, their pains and sufferings, in fate of humiliated and degraded. Social criticism, condemnation of injustice and blunt way of living, were inherent to Perov's creations. Generally dull colors of his paintings should be perceived not as insufficiency, but rather as differentiating uniqueness reflecting "intellectual sorrow". The painting depicts greedy priest who refuses to help disabled war veteran and invalid, acknowledged for heroism in Crimean War with the Order of the St. George Cross.