Vasily Petrovich Schegolenok (Schegolenkov) narrator 1879

Curator: What a wonderfully raw portrait this is! We’re looking at Vasily Polenov's 1879 pencil drawing of Vasily Petrovich Schegolenok, often referred to as simply 'The Narrator'. Editor: Immediately, the weariness in this man's face hits me. It feels like centuries of stories etched into every line. Curator: Indeed. Polenov really captured that sense of lived history, didn't he? Schegolenok was a storyteller, so you have to wonder about the stories he carried with him and perhaps shared with Polenov. I’m always curious about those unseen collaborations, where the model influences the art in untold ways. Editor: It makes me think about how artists choose their subjects, particularly during a period where realism and capturing "truth" were so important. What made Polenov want to preserve this particular face? And to portray him in such an unembellished manner? It's almost brutally honest. Curator: Well, the late 19th century in Russia was a time of enormous social upheaval. Artists were very much engaged with depicting the lives of ordinary people, often with great empathy. This piece feels aligned with that drive. There's a vulnerability here, almost as if Schegolenok is both the subject and a stand-in for a whole class of people overlooked. And the choice of pencil contributes—there's nothing luxurious about it, which reflects the life being portrayed. Editor: I’m struck by the expressiveness of the eyes—how much of the man's spirit is concentrated there. Everything else feels almost… provisional, like sketches awaiting completion. But those eyes are arresting. Curator: I completely agree. The level of detail around the eyes really draws you in. Polenov used subtle variations in shading to achieve that focus, giving the gaze immense power. It goes beyond simply depicting a face—it conveys something about the inner life. The contrast with the sketchier parts—the clothes, the hands—amplifies it even further. It reminds me how seemingly ‘unfinished’ pieces can be more complete than hyperrealistic ones. Editor: It feels like we're getting a glimpse of not only Schegolenok but also Polenov's artistic heart. A quiet respect for the weight of stories carried through generations. Curator: Absolutely. And a reminder that even in the most unassuming sketches, history whispers if we pause and listen.