Self-Portrait 1878

This is Grigoriy Myasoyedov's self-portrait, an oil on canvas, and though it's undated, we can place it within the artistic and social context of late 19th-century Russia. Myasoyedov was a key figure in the Peredvizhniki movement, also known as the Wanderers. This group of Russian realist artists formed in protest against the academic restrictions of the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts. They sought to depict the realities of Russian life, often focusing on the peasantry and social injustices. Here, Myasoyedov presents himself as a serious, contemplative intellectual. The dark background throws his face into sharp relief, emphasizing his gaze. It's a far cry from the grand, idealized portraits of the aristocracy, and instead reflects the Peredvizhniki's commitment to portraying authentic, unvarnished subjects. To understand this work more fully, one can look at the manifestos and exhibition catalogs of the Peredvizhniki, as well as the broader social and political history of Russia at the time. Through this, we can learn the meaning of the art which is contingent on its time and place.