The artwork “Portrait of Zinaida Nikolayevna Gippius” was created by the artist Ilya Repin in 1894. It is a pencil work on paper, exemplifying the Realism art movement, with dimensions measuring 34 x 24 cm. The genre of this piece is a portrait.
This particular portrait by Repin showcases a rather intimate depiction of Zinaida Nikolayevna Gippius, who is captured with a direct and engaging gaze. The artist’s skill with pencil is evident in the delicate rendering of her facial features, the soft texture of her hair, and the nuanced shadows that convey the volume of her garment. Repin’s use of line is both confident and expressive, adding a dynamic quality to the portrait, while the shading around her neck and shoulders suggests the depth of her attire without intricate detail. The artwork’s composition is straightforward, focusing solely on the upper torso and face, immersing the viewer in the subject’s presence.
The portrait, while simple in its medium, is a powerful representation of the individual, with an emphasis on psychological depth that is characteristic of Realist principles. Repin has signed and dated the artwork at the bottom, which further authenticates it as his own.
