F.V. Dubasov 1906

This satirical portrait, F.V. Dubasov, by Boris Kustodiev, uses stark contrasts and bold, graphic marks, to skewer its subject, probably with ink or charcoal. It reminds us that artmaking is not just about rendering, but about revealing. Look at how the rigid black of the uniform is punctuated by bursts of white ornamentation. The medals and epaulettes become almost cartoonish in their excess. The artist’s hand is so present, you can feel his frustration and the dark humor, in the way he renders the white shapes. The face is particularly telling, with its pinched expression and slightly absurd features; it’s a study in caricature. Kustodiev uses the black and white to amplify the emotional impact, and maybe this work relates to the tradition of political cartoons. Whatever it is, it suggests art is always a dialogue, always open to interpretation, and never quite settled.