The artwork “Portrait of engineer Ivan Yefgrafovich Adadurov” is an oil on canvas painting by Ilya Repin, created between 1884 and 1885. Measuring 99 by 81 centimeters, it is executed in the Realism art movement and represents the genre of portraiture.
The artwork depicts Ivan Yefgrafovich Adadurov, an engineer, seated at a desk with what appears to be drafting tools and documents before him, suggesting his professional milieu. Repin has captured the subject with a direct gaze and a dignified poise that convey a sense of his intellectual weight and character. The figure is well-dressed, indicating his social status, wearing a dark suit with a white shirt and a black tie that contrasts with his lively dark eyes and prominently featured curly hair and beard.
The background is subdued, using neutral colors that ensure the focus remains on the subject. The composition is balanced, with the desk and tools in the foreground, highlighting Adadurov’s profession, while the use of light accentuates the facial features, hands, and the instruments of his trade. The rendering is realistic, with a meticulous attention to detail and texture that is characteristic of Repin’s portraiture, all of which combine to create a palpable sense of the sitter’s presence and personality.
