Portrait of Vasily Kastalsky 

Boris Kustodiev created this portrait of Vasily Kastalsky using oil on canvas. The visible brushstrokes are part of the aesthetic here; they give the impression of a quickly executed likeness. Oil paint allows the artist to build up layers of color and texture. Look closely, and you’ll see how Kustodiev uses this to great effect, particularly in the background where he blurs the subject with rapid vertical lines of blue, brown and yellow pigments. Despite the speed of its execution, this portrait suggests the status of its sitter. Kastalsky’s neatly trimmed beard and smart black suit indicate that he is an educated, urban figure. The application of the paint has an industrial feel that matches Kastalsky's bourgeois aesthetic. Considering the material properties and the way it was made allows us to appreciate the painting on more than just a visual level. The image suggests the meeting of the industrial revolution and the world of fine art.