Once in the summer of 1878, in Abramtsevo, a conversation about Zaporozhian antiquity began among friends. The historian N. I. Kostomarov read a letter written in the 17th century by Zaporizhian Cossacks to the Turkish Sultan in response to his bold proposal to convert to Turkish citizenship. The letter was so mischievous, it was so mockingly written that everyone literally rolled with laughter. Repin fired up and decided to write a picture on this topic.
Repin visited the places where Zaporizhzhya Sich was once. He became acquainted with the customs of the local Cossacks, examined the old fortifications, became acquainted with the costumes of the Cossacks, household items. He made many sketches and sketches. And finally, the picture is finished.
… The day is burning, the smoke of fires winds up, and a wide steppe is spread far and wide. A Zaporozhye Cossack freemen gathered around the table to write the answer to the Turkish sultan. The clerk writes, he is a clever man and respected in the Sich, and they compose everything – everyone wants to have their say. Ataman of all Zaporizhzhya troops, Ivan Sirko, leaned over the clerk. He is the sworn enemy of the Turkish sultan, not once reached Constantinople himself and “let such smoke go in there, that the sultan sneezed, as if he sniffed tobacco with shredded glass.” It was he who, probably, under the general laughter, said a strong word, podkobenilsya, lit a pipe, and in the eyes of laughter and enthusiasm of a person ready for action. Nearby, clutching at his stomach with his hands, a mighty gray-haired Cossack in red zhupane is laughing – quite Taras Bulba.
Fading from laughter, the grandfather leaned against the table with a forelock on his forehead. On the contrary, a broad-shouldered Cossack is on an upturned barrel – only the back of his head is visible, and it seems his thunder laughter is heard. A half-naked Cossack savoring a strong otavanovo mot, and another, black-eyed, in a hat with a red top, slammed his fist on the back with delight. A slender, handsome young man in rich clothes is smiling – is it Andriy, Tarasov’s son? .. But the “didok” opened his mouth wide, wrinkled with laughter; the young bursak squeezed through the crowd, grinning, peering into the letter; behind him is a warrior in a black cloak with a bandage on his head…
And all this crowd, all this gathering of Zaporozhye “lytsars”, lives, makes noise, laughs, but at the first call of his chieftain he is ready to leave everything, to go to the enemy and to put his soul for Sich, because for each of them there is nothing more expensive than his homeland nothing holier than camaraderie.
In the unrestrained laughter of the Cossacks over the cruel enemy before the fight, Repin shows heroic spirit, independence, prowess and fighting enthusiasm.
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