The artwork “Leo Tolstoy working at the round table,” created by Ilya Repin in 1891, is a significant piece that exemplifies the Realism art movement. It is a portrait that captures the Russian writer Leo Tolstoy immersed in his work.
In this detailed portrayal, Tolstoy is seated at a round table laden with papers and writing instruments, embodying the intellectual vigor for which he is renowned. The intensity of his focus is palpable as he bends over his materials, pen in hand, deep in concentration. The artwork’s rendering in pencil allows for a dynamic interplay of light and shadow, highlighting the textural details of Tolstoy’s bushy beard, wrinkled shirt, and the drapery behind him. Repin’s mastery in realism is evident in the authenticity of the scene and the lifelike representation of Tolstoy’s absorbed demeanor. The surrounding elements in the room are sketched with a lighter touch, suggesting a secondary importance to the central figure and his work, thereby creating a scene that is both intimate and revealing of Tolstoy’s character.
