Portrait of V.D. Ratov (S.M. Muratov) 1910

Ilya Repin made this portrait of V.D. Ratov with oil paints, and what strikes me is the pure energy in those strokes. It's like Repin wasn’t just painting a portrait, but trying to capture the sheer dynamism of a person. Look at the pinks and reds of the robe, almost feverish, rendered in these juicy, thick strokes. You can almost feel the texture of the paint, the way it sits on the canvas, each brushstroke a deliberate mark, building up the form. The hands, clasped together, are so full of movement that they seem to vibrate, don't they? There’s this amazing contrast between the vibrant color of the robe and the darker, more subdued tones of the face and background. It creates a push-and-pull effect, where the figure seems to emerge from the darkness, caught in a moment of intense presence. I'm reminded of Van Gogh, in that way Repin fearlessly used paint to express emotion, embracing the process of artmaking as a way to reveal inner character. It’s this kind of bold mark-making that makes art so alive, don't you think?