The artwork in question is a 1914 oil on canvas portrait by Ilya Repin, a masterful artist known for his contributions to the Realism movement. The piece measures 57 x 79 cm and belongs to the genre of portraiture. It is titled “Portrait of poet, prose writer, translator and dramatist Sergei Mitrofanovich Gorodetsky with his wife,” capturing the essence of the couple in a style that combines meticulous detail with expressive brushwork typical of Repin’s technique.
This particular artwork features a compelling visual narrative of the couple. The composition is rich with vibrant colors and textures that showcase Repin’s virtuosity with a brush. The setting appears to be an interior, perhaps a living space, imbued with the opulent décor of the period. Sergei Mitrofanovich Gorodetsky is depicted in the background, his figure slightly blurred and subsidiary to the striking, more detailed figure of his wife in the foreground. She is portrayed with a direct gaze that engages the viewer, conveying an air of confidence and presence. Her clothing is rendered with diverse and vivid strokes of color, emphasizing the lively character of her attire and perhaps her own vibrant personality. Luxuriant fabrics, such as the plump crimson cushion in the foreground, add a tactile dimension to the portrait, hinting at a comfortable, yet dynamic domestic life. Repin’s signature and the date of creation are discernible on the artwork, adding a personal touch to the historic representation of these figures.
