The artwork titled “Portrait of Nadezhda Repina, the Artist’s Daughter” was painted by the esteemed artist Ilya Repin in the year 1900. This oil on canvas painting adheres to the principles of the Realism movement, a genre where the artist’s objective is to portray subjects truthfully, without artificiality and avoiding artistic conventions, implausible, exotic, and supernatural elements. The dimensions of the artwork are 94 by 67 centimeters. Presently, the portrait is housed in the Tretyakov Gallery, located in Moscow, Russia.
In the artwork, we observe a young woman portrayed with an air of elegance and casual poise. She stands against a subtle, natural background, with her body slightly turned towards the viewer. The subject is donning a light, blue-colored dress with a high neckline and puffed sleeves, which is indicative of the fashion of the period around the turn of the 20th century. An expansive, pale-hued hat with a broad brim shades her face, adding a graceful touch to her appearance.
The artist’s mastery in rendering the texture of fabrics and the interplay of light is evident in the delicate reflection on the dress and the soft shadows under the hat. Her facial features are rendered with precision and sensitivity, capturing an expression that is contemplative yet poised. In her hands, she delicately holds what appears to be a parasol and a red flower, further accentuating her genteel disposition.
The vivid brushstrokes and the attention to detail reflect Repin’s skill in capturing the nuances of his subject’s character and status. As a portrait, the work goes beyond mere representation; it invites viewers to consider the subject’s individuality and the social context of her time. The artwork exudes a timeless quality, showcasing Repin’s ability to create a lifelike representation that endures as a testament to his artistic prowess and to the era it embodies.
