The artwork entitled “Portrait of a Boy” is a creation of the artist Ilya Repin. It is crafted using tempera on paper and is a depiction within the Realism movement. The piece has modest dimensions, measuring 22 by 11 centimeters and, as indicated by the genre, it is a portrait.
The artwork presents a young boy depicted from the waist up, facing slightly to the viewer’s left with his gaze directed toward the viewer, which gives the impression of a quiet engagement. The boy is attired in a traditional-style costume consisting of a dark jacket, a light vest, and a white shirt with a dark tie. A black hat sits atop his head, lending a certain formality to his appearance. Repin’s mastery of tempera is evident in the delicate rendering of the boy’s features – the tender flesh tones of the face, the softness of the eyes, and the subtle coloring of the lips. The background behind the boy is muted and nondescript, focusing the viewer’s attention on the subject himself. The brushstrokes are loose and impressionistic, particularly noticeable in the less detailed clothing and hat, suggesting the fleeting nature of childhood. Repin’s signature is conspicuously placed on the lower right, further authenticating the piece as his work. The overall effect is one of refined simplicity and poignant realism, capturing the innocence and introspective mood of the boy in a single moment in time.
