In the 19th century, interest in realism and the depiction of everyday life emerged in Russia. In literature, this direction was embraced by Lermontov and Gogol, while in painting, Pavel Fedotov stood out. One of his most famous works is the painting 'The Fresh Cavalier', also known as 'The Morning of the Official Who Received His First Cross'. This canvas features many characteristic details of the time and still evokes smiles today.

The first thing that catches the eye is the 'cavalier' himself, a representative of the bureaucracy. He is depicted in the morning in a home robe resembling a Roman toga. His majestic pose against the backdrop of the poor room and scattered debris looks pitiful and vain. Judging by the bottles and remnants of food lying on the floor, the celebration of receiving the order was boisterous. This is also evidenced by the guitar standing on a chair. Nevertheless, the official is confident in his high status and demands respect. However, in the gaze of the maid, handing him his holey boots, there is condescension and reproach: 'You should get dressed, sir.'

Although Fedotov's painting was presented as humorous, society perceived it as a critique of officials, reaching the point of demonizing bureaucracy. The well-known critic Vladimir Stasov wrote: 'Before you is a hardened nature, a corrupt bribe-taker, a soulless slave of his superior, thinking of nothing but money and the cross in his lapel.'

Pavel Fedotov argued with the critic, claiming that he did not set out to achieve such a goal, but merely wanted to mock vanity. However, later the artist himself faced the bureaucratic machine: one of the censors demanded the removal of the image of the order to avoid tarnishing the status of the state award. Fedotov categorically refused.