Head of old jew 1895

Vasily Polenov painted this “Head of Old Jew” using oil on canvas. Looking closely, you can see how Polenov has built up the image in layers. The varied brushwork is quite visible –see the textured strokes of paint that define the figure’s beard, and the broad, flat areas of color in the background. The application of paint gives the work an immediacy, as if it was completed in one sitting. This direct approach to painting, capturing a fleeting moment, was very much in line with the artistic aims of the time. But it is also important to consider the social context in which Polenov was working. Oil paint, though a common medium, was also a commodity—dependent on industrial production and global trade. This painting, therefore, isn't just a study of an individual, but a product of its time, reflecting the growing accessibility of art materials and the broader cultural interest in capturing the everyday. It shows that “high art” and “craft” are not so far apart.