The artwork “Portrait of Nadya Repina” is an oil on canvas painting created by artist Ilya Repin in 1881, measuring 65 x 54 cm. This piece is emblematic of the Realism art movement and is categorized as a portrait. The painting encapsulates the discernible qualities of Realism, a movement that sought to depict subjects authentically, without artistic conventions, exoticism, or theatrical drama.
In the artwork, a young girl is portrayed in a domestic setting, her body positioned at a three-quarter angle while her head is turned to face the viewer. There is an air of informal intimacy in the pose and the gaze of the subject that seeks the viewer’s attention. Her attire—a pink dress with delicate lace and fabric details—exudes a sense of gentleness and conveys the textures through Repin’s adept use of light and shadow. The brushwork is precise yet expressive, giving life to the fabric and the sitter’s curls.
The somber yet inquisitive expression of the girl suggests a moment of contemplation or a brief pause in her activity. The background, while subdued in detail, serves to enhance the focal point of the painting, the subject herself. The lush application of paint and nuanced color palette highlight the sitter’s visage and costume, thus demonstrating the artist’s facility in rendering human emotion and the tactile quality of fabrics, which are significant characteristics of Realist artwork.
