Autocrat 

Konstantin Korobov created this painting, titled "Autocrat," using oil on canvas. At first glance, the composition might appear to be a jumbled collection of bodies, but closer examination reveals the artist's intent. The painting employs a complex structure, where human forms intertwine to create a sense of oppressive closeness. The limited palette, dominated by fleshy tones, reinforces the feeling of bodies pressed together. The figures are arranged in a way that destabilizes traditional portraiture, obscuring individual identities in favor of a collective mass. Through the semiotic lens, these bodies can be interpreted as signs of power dynamics, particularly the way authority can subjugate the individual. The title "Autocrat" further enriches this interpretation, highlighting the suppression of individuality under authoritarian rule. The formal quality of the painting lies in its disorienting composition, a visual metaphor for the chaos and loss of self experienced under an autocratic regime. The painting becomes a powerful statement about the relationship between power, the body, and identity.