The artwork titled “Portrait of members of State Council Ivan Logginovich Goremykin and Nikolai Nikolayevich Gerard. Study.” is a painting by the esteemed artist Ilya Repin, created in 1903. The medium used to craft this work is oil on canvas, which was common in the Realism art movement that Repin was a part of. The dimensions of the painting are 63 x 45 cm. This portrait is categorized within the genre of portrait paintings, and it is presently housed in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, Russia.
The artwork delineates a study of two male figures, capturing their stately presence with a striking sense of intimacy and depth. The seated individuals are depicted with evident attention to the textures of their attire and the subtleties of their expressions. The man on the left is shown in sharp profile, his gaze directed slightly downwards, suggesting contemplation or conversation. His dark attire contrasts with the rich, golden embellishments on the uniform of the figure on the right, whose medals and decorations speak of high status and military or civil service.
Repin’s mastery of light and shadow is evident, providing a sense of volume and three-dimensionality to the subjects’ faces and clothing. The contrast between the intricate details of the uniforms and the loosely rendered background emphasizes the focus on the figures themselves. The brushwork is both precise in depicting detail and audaciously broad where less emphasis is required, a hallmark of Repin’s style.
This artwork is a testament to Repin’s ability to convey not only the physical likeness of his subjects but also a glimpse into their characters. It is a piece that reflects the Realism movement’s objective of portraying subjects truthfully, without artifice, and in their natural state.
