Ignaty Stepanovich Shchedrovsky (1815–1870), born as Ignotas Mauricijus Ščedrauskas, was a Russian painter of Polish origin. His oeuvre includes portraits, landscapes, and history paintings. However, he is best known for his lithographic drawings depicting urban scenes.

Having studied the fundamentals of art under the Lithuanian artist and professor Jan Rustem, Ignaty Shchedrovsky came to St. Petersburg at the age of 18 aiming to enroll at the Academy of Arts. Having failed to get into the Academy due to fierce competition and being unable to pay the tuition fees, Shchedrovsky attended classes as a non-matriculated student.

In 1836, for his achievements in landscape painting, Ignaty Shchedrovsky was awarded the title of an unclassed artist. The next year, he came up with an innovative idea. He suggested creating a series of drawings that would depict “people in their everyday life” and demonstrate “the clothes worn by the citizens of St. Petersburg”. The idea was approved by the Society for the Encouragement of Artists. The publishers decided to make the drawings into lithographic prints and to produce albums of six sheets each. Alexander Umnov and Lev Belousov were asked to contribute to the project as lithographers.

In 1839, the Society financed the publication of the first album “Scenes from the Everyday Life of Russian People” which included 36 vertical lithographs. The drawings feature coopers, laundrywomen, street cleaners, and tradeswomen at work and leisure, engaged in their everyday activities, depicted in their natural poses. The artist not only captured the appearance of these people but also conveyed the rhythm of their lives.

In 1845, a new album was published. It was titled “Here are Our People!” and featured horizontal, colored drawings. The artist created sketches using lead pencil, ink, and brush. The drawings had the size of future lithographs.

Lithographers used black, red, and blue paint. Separate lithographic limestones were used for each color. If a certain area required intense colors, it was initially inked in or shaded with pencil. For a sharp outline, a lithographer would use smoothly polished limestones, and for soft, blurred outlines — limestones with a rough surface. Acids, talcum powder, and resins were also used in lithography.

The drawing “Coopers” was included in the 1855 album titled “Scenes from the Everyday Life of Russian People. Drawn from Life by Ignaty Shchedrovsky”. The images were accompanied by texts by V.N. Savinov.