Painting Portrait of Kuindzhi by Ivan Kramskoy

The painting “Portrait of A. I. Kuindzhi” by Ivan Kramskoy is a reflection of the creative concentration and philosophical profundity of the Russian artist
Portrait of Kuindzhi – a painting by Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoy, written in 1872, is interesting for its emphasis on the personality of the depicted artist. The dark background is poorly developed, the character’s clothes are indicated by careless strokes. Nothing prevents you from concentrating on a surprisingly soulful face. A man with a thick, bushy beard does not look at the viewer. He is immersed in his thoughts. The eyes are narrowed, a slight half-smile is guessed on the lips. Perhaps he already sees the plot for the next pictorial masterpiece. A high, open forehead, calmness of features are surprisingly combined with thick, reddish hair. They look like the fur of a seasoned brown bear. It seems that in the character of the person being portrayed there is something from this representative of the Russian fauna: strength, independence and awareness of one’s significance.
Name of the painting: “Portrait of A. I. Kuindzhi.”
Author: Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoy (1837-1887).
Year of writing: 1872.
Size: 35 x 28 cm.
Style: Realism.
Genre: Portrait.
Technique: Oil painting.
Material: Canvas.
Location: State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russia.
Ivan Nikolayevich Kramskoy is a Russian artist of the 19th century who lived a short, colorful life.
He was one of the founders of the Association of Traveling Exhibitions, designed to make art accessible to the general public. As a master of portraiture, he sought to understand the nature of his models. The images embodied by him on canvas can tell a lot about each character to an attentive viewer.
The painting “Portrait of A. I. Kuindzhi” by Ivan Kramskoy was created in his usual manner, when realism is combined with an impressionistic “freeze frame”. The author caught and was able to convey the impression of the hero. One of the best images of the famous Russian landscape painter has been preserved for posterity in the collection of the Tretyakov Gallery.