Portrait of Boris Nikolayevich Bugaev (Andrey Bely) 1905

Léon Bakst created this portrait of Boris Nikolayevich Bugaev, also known as Andrey Bely, in 1905 using pastel on paper. Observe how the linear quality dominates the portrait. Bakst's choice of line is not merely descriptive, but emotionally expressive, shaping our perception of Bely's character. The delicate hatching and cross-hatching give form to Bely's face and clothing, while also creating a sense of depth and volume. The lines create a subtle tension between flatness and three-dimensionality, typical of the Symbolist movement. In semiotic terms, Bely's sharp gaze, framed by soft strokes of pastel suggesting hair, engages directly with the viewer. The artist uses line and form to convey intellectual intensity and interiority. Bakst seems to deconstruct the traditional portrait, presenting it not as a mere likeness but as a complex interplay of perception, representation, and subjective interpretation.