A man in white jacket 1913

Ilya Repin made this small painting of a man in a white jacket with oil on canvas. The brushstrokes are applied in a broken manner, with visible dabs and dashes of paint. It feels like Repin built up the image gradually, letting the colors and forms emerge through layers of observation and intuition. I can imagine him, squinting slightly, trying to capture not just the appearance but also the mood of his sitter, who might have shifted slightly in his seat. The white jacket is not just white; it’s a symphony of off-whites, creams, and grays, each dab suggesting the play of light and shadow. It’s like he’s saying, “I see you, and I’m trying to understand you.” Painters are always in dialogue with one another, across time and space, and so this piece reminds me a little of the way Manet would build up an image in tones. There is a sense of immediacy to the touch, but also a profound understanding of form and light. I feel like painting is less about answers and more about the questions we ask along the way.