Aleksandr Lebedev was a talented illustrator and cartoonist known for his satirical cartoons and illustrations of Russian literary works. Despite being initially assigned to the School of Topography by his military father, Lebedev pursued his passion for art and attended evening drawing classes at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts as a freelance student. After graduating in 1857, he became a freelance artist and made his debut in the Veselchak magazine in 1858. Lebedev collaborated with various satirical magazines and created thematic albums that portrayed social strata and amusing everyday situations. His work showcased a range of topics, including the fate of inexperienced girls in the city and social satire depicting bribery and abuses of power. Lebedev also gained recognition for his humorous portraits of celebrities, employing lithography and pencil techniques.

Lithography was Lebedev's primary graphic technique, often incorporating colored backgrounds, and he was adept at preparatory drawings for translation into lithographic stone. His illustrations for the works of Russian writers such as Pushkin, Lermontov, Krylov, Gogol, and Ostrovsky were featured in magazines or released as separate albums. Notable among his works were lithographs based on the poems of Nekrasov and the satirical illustrations for Saltykov-Shchedrin's works. Despite his artistic success, Lebedev struggled financially throughout his life and faced rejection when seeking assistance from the Academy of Fine Arts. After his sudden death, he was remembered by his contemporaries as an exceptional master of lithography with a satirical gift and talent for interpreting literary works.