The artwork titled “Tatyana Repina, the Artist’s Mother” is an oil painting on canvas by the renowned artist Ilya Repin. This portrait was completed in the year 1867 and is a fine example of the Realism art movement. The dimensions of the piece are 60 by 50 centimeters. As a genre, it falls under portraiture and currently resides within the esteemed collection of the National Gallery in Prague, located in Prague, Czech Republic.
The artwork portrays Tatyana Repina, the mother of Ilya Repin, with a forthright gaze at the viewer. She appears to be middle-aged, with her hair neatly tied back and covered by a headscarf, which was a common practice amongst women of that era. The artist captures a kindly expression on her face, her lips upturned in a slight smile that communicates a sense of warmth and approachability.
Repin’s portrayal pays close attention to the texture and nuanced shading of his mother’s face, likely achieved through deft brushwork and a keen understanding of light and shadow. The earthy color palette is predominantly composed of browns and dark shades, which serves to draw the viewer’s attention to the sitter’s visage and the subtle interplay of expressions thereon. The brushstrokes visible in the artwork suggest both vitality and precision, hallmarks of Repin’s mastery. Notably, her clothing is rendered with broad, confident strokes, which lend a dynamic feel to the composition and contrast with the detailed treatment of her features.
The overall atmosphere of the painting is one of dignified simplicity, emblematic of the Realism movement’s focus on depicting subjects truthfully, without artifice or romanticization. This work is a testament to Repin’s ability to convey the character and essence of his sitter, in this case, his own mother, through his skillful use of oil paints on canvas.
