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January 28, 2026
The last man left in a Moldovan village: Laetitia Vançon’s best photograph
‘Dobrușa once had a population of 200. Grisa now lived there alone with his 120 ducks and other animals. The two other remaining residents were murdered by a farmer from a neighbouring village’
TL;DR
- Dobrușa, a village in rural Moldova, had only one resident, Grisa, in July 2019.
- The village population declined significantly after the fall of the Soviet Union.
- Grisa, a former soldier, lived a simple life, farming sheep and other animals.
- A violent incident involving the murder of the village's other inhabitants preceded Grisa's consideration of leaving.
- The photographer documented Grisa's daily routine, including tending to animals and selling honey.
- Photography is presented as a tool for bridging cultural gaps and revealing shared humanity.
- Despite loneliness, Grisa found joy in solitude, reading, and spending time with his animals, calling his home a 'little heaven'.
- The photographer captured Grisa at sunrise and sundown, reflecting on the man's contentment and the beauty of his isolated life.
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