Chestnut Vendor Roasting Over Coals in Moscow

Vapor rises from a cast-iron pan resting on glowing embers as a vendor stirs dark brown chestnuts. The vendor wears a heavy wool coat, standing at a weathered wooden bench typical of a flower auction site. Wet droplets rest on the metal rim of the pan and glisten on the vendor's gloved hands. Behind the subject, rows of empty wooden crates and faded floral signage recede into the deep shadow of the market hall. A sharp rim light cuts through the twilight gloom, outlining the steam and the vendor's profile against the dim interior. The ground shows scattered wet leaves and rain-slicked pavement, reflecting the faint orange glow of the coals. A small pile of unroasted nuts sits in a woven basket beside the fire, waiting for the heat.