Poprishchin 1882

Ilya Repin's "Poprishchin" (1882) depicts the protagonist of Nikolai Gogol's short story "Diary of a Madman" in a moment of profound mental anguish. The painting captures the character's descent into madness, as he stands forlornly in a dimly lit room, his eyes filled with a haunting mix of despair and delusion. The use of dark colors and a muted palette emphasizes the character's isolation and psychological torment, while the solitary figure and the bare, simple room contribute to a sense of bleakness and solitude. This work is considered a masterpiece of Russian realism, exploring the psychological depth and societal anxieties of the time.