The artwork “Youth Portrait of Sculptor Ilya Yakovlevich Ginzburg” is an oil on canvas painting created in 1871 by the renowned Russian artist Ilya Repin. As a depiction captured in the heart of the Realism art movement, the portrait possesses a striking fidelity to life. The dimensions of the artwork are modest, measuring 31 cm by 25 cm, and the piece is currently housed in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, Russia. It falls within the genre of portraiture, which was a significant aspect of Repin’s oeuvre.
The artwork presents a close-up view of a young man, presumably the sculptor Ilya Yakovlevich Ginzburg as a youth. The sitter’s expression is contemplative and sober, with his eyes seemingly conveying an intense inward focus. Repin’s use of earthy and subdued tones, with a concentration on the play of light and shadow, captivates the viewer and brings forth the texture of the sitter’s curly hair and the subtle details of his facial features. The portrait is rendered with a degree of realism that seeks not only to capture the subject’s physical appearance but also a sense of his psychological state.
The brushwork is composed with a variety that suggests both the skilled hand of the artist and the emotional depth of the subject, exemplifying Repin’s masterful ability to portray character and mood. The background is unobtrusive and sparse, directing all emphasis to the young man’s face and the naturalistic representation of his visage. Noteworthy is the visible signature and date in the lower right corner, serving as a testament to the authenticity and historical context of the piece.
