Portrait of Count N.P. Ignatieff 1902

Boris Kustodiev’s portrait of Count N.P. Ignatieff is a real masterclass in how to use oil paint to tell a story about power, status, and, of course, the inner life of the sitter. I can imagine Kustodiev in his studio, wrestling with the canvas, trying to capture not just the likeness of the Count, but his essence, his presence. See how he's built up those layers of paint? Thick, luscious strokes that give the whole thing a kind of depth, a real weight. The colors are rich and saturated, especially in the Count's face, with those little dashes of red that give him vitality and warmth. But it’s in the details that the painting really comes alive. Take those medals and decorations, for instance. Kustodiev hasn’t just painted them as symbols of status, but as objects of beauty, little glimmers of light that dance across the canvas. He’s in conversation with artists like Ilya Repin, but he’s also pushing things forward, finding his own voice. Painting is a process of discovery, a journey into the unknown. And it’s by embracing that uncertainty, by allowing for multiple readings and interpretations, that we can truly make something special.