Portrait of M.A. Voloshin 1924

Boris Kustodiev drew this portrait of M.A. Voloshin in 1924, using what looks like graphite or charcoal on paper. The lines are soft and smudgy, capturing not just a likeness but also a feeling of the sitter’s presence, almost like a hazy memory. Look at the way Kustodiev uses hatching and cross-hatching to build up the tones, especially in Voloshin’s beard and hair. It’s a beautiful balance between precision and looseness. There’s something so tender in the rendering of the subject. I particularly like the subtle suggestion of light and shadow, and the way the artist coaxes out the form using such simple means. The visible strokes and corrections reveal the artist’s hand and thought process, reminding us that art is as much about the journey as the destination. This reminds me a little of some of the portrait drawings of Ingres, in that the line is so crucial to capturing the essence of the person. Ultimately it’s about embracing the imperfect and finding beauty in the ephemeral.