The artwork titled “Portrait of the artist’s daughter Nadezhda” is an oil on canvas creation by the renowned artist Ilya Repin, completed in the year 1898. Measuring 57.5 x 71 cm, this piece is an exemplar of the Realism art movement, specifically falling within the genre of portraiture. Repin’s command of this medium is on full display as he captures not only the likeness but also the nuanced expression of his daughter.
In this portrait, Repin portrays Nadezhda with a piercing and contemplative gaze that directly engages the viewer. The artist’s use of lighting subtly highlights the facial features of his subject, drawing attention to her thoughtful eyes and the naturalistic rendering of skin tones. Her attire, although not elaborately detailed, suggests the style of the period and contributes to the understated realism of the piece. The brushwork, particularly in the background, is loose and impressionistic, allowing for a dynamic contrast between the figure and her surroundings. This factor, coupled with the depth of the subject’s gaze, infuses the artwork with a sense of psychological complexity that is characteristic of Repin’s portraits.