Portrait of F.I. Chaliapin 1921

This is Boris Kustodiev's "Portrait of F.I. Chaliapin," made with charcoal, probably sometime in the early 20th century. It's all about the energy of the line, isn't it? Quick, confident strokes building up this imposing figure, full of life. Look at the way Kustodiev uses the charcoal, smudging some areas for shadow, leaving others crisp and defined. The coat, it's like a landscape in itself, a whole world of textures and tones, from the velvety darks of the fur collar to the lighter, almost shimmering planes of the fabric. The whole composition has a kind of raw, unfinished quality, like a jazz riff; the image of this man seems to emerge right before your eyes. For me, this drawing has echoes of Daumier, that same sense of capturing a real person, flaws and all. It’s a reminder that art doesn't always have to be polished or perfect; sometimes, the most powerful stuff is the stuff that feels alive and in process.