Portrait of Yuri Korvin-Krukovsky 1926

Boris Kustodiev made this drawing of Yuri Korvin-Krukovsky, most likely with charcoal on paper. It looks as if Kustodiev began with loose, gestural lines, mapping out the sitter's form with a quick, intuitive process, not worrying about the fine details. Look at how the lines around the figure’s chest and shoulders are allowed to wander, giving a sense of movement. But then the marks around the face are much more defined, with sharp, controlled lines creating the shadows and wrinkles that give the face its character. You can almost feel the weight of the charcoal as it presses onto the page. The contrast creates a really compelling effect. This piece reminds me of some of the portrait drawings by Käthe Kollwitz, where the raw energy of the mark-making conveys the emotional depth of the subject. Like Kollwitz, Kustodiev isn't just showing us what someone looks like, he is sharing a sense of their inner life, captured in a fleeting moment.