Vera Shevtsova 

Ilya Repin painted "Vera Shevtsova" with oil on canvas, using a quick, sketch-like technique. Unlike the laborious methods typically associated with academic painting, Repin embraced a more spontaneous and direct approach to capture a fleeting moment. The brushwork in "Vera Shevtsova" is loose and visible, with broad strokes defining the forms and textures. This technique, known as "alla prima" or "wet-on-wet," involved applying paint directly to the canvas without allowing previous layers to dry. The resulting surface is lively, with a palpable sense of immediacy. Repin's energetic application of paint stands in contrast to the time-intensive methods that produce highly polished, detailed surfaces. The conscious decision to embrace visible brushwork challenges the traditional hierarchy between sketch and finished painting. By highlighting the process of making, Repin invites viewers to appreciate the artist's hand and the inherent qualities of the medium, blurring the lines between fine art and craft. This emphasis on materiality and process shifts the focus from mere representation to a deeper engagement with the act of painting itself.