Portrait of V. Luzhsky 1915

Boris Kustodiev made this portrait of V. Luzhsky with crayon in 1915. It’s pretty cool how a few dark lines on paper can give you so much information. I imagine Kustodiev standing close to his subject, his eyes darting back and forth, trying to capture something essential about Luzhsky's character. The marks are quick and sure, with the crayon almost dancing across the page. It reminds me of some of my own drawing when I'm trying to get a likeness down fast. Check out how he uses hatching to define the shadows on the face, especially around the eyes and cheekbones. There's a real sense of volume there, even though it’s just lines on paper. It's like he’s trying to feel the form of Luzhsky’s face with the crayon. The quick, scribbled lines of this portrait remind us that artists are always in conversation with each other, borrowing and riffing on ideas across time. It’s a reminder that painting is embodied expression, and it’s okay to embrace ambiguity.