Study For a Man In Spanish Costume 1873

Ilya Repin's "Study For a Man in Spanish Costume" is a portrait study painted in 1873. The painting shows a man's head and shoulders wearing a large, dark hat and a white, ruff-like collar over a dark jacket. The man's face is cast in shadow, and he stares directly at the viewer. The realism and detail in the study are characteristic of Repin's work, suggesting a preparatory sketch for a larger, more elaborate painting. Repin, one of the most prominent Russian realist painters of the 19th century, is known for his insightful depictions of people from all walks of life.