Negress 1876

Ilya Repin's "Negress" (1876) depicts a Black woman in traditional garb seated on a patterned rug. She wears numerous gold necklaces and bracelets, suggesting wealth and status. Her piercing gaze and composed posture convey strength and dignity, challenging the colonial stereotypes often associated with Black women during this period. The painting's realism and attention to detail underscore Repin's commitment to portraying his subjects with authenticity.