Portrait of P. Salomon 1903

Boris Kustodiev painted this portrait of P. Salomon with oil on canvas, and the visible brushstrokes give it a real sense of immediacy, like you’re watching the painting come together in real time. The colors are muted, almost like a memory, but then you have these pops of red that just grab your attention. Look at the way he's handled the red sash, it's not just a flat color, it's got depth, texture, a life of its own. It’s a real mark of confidence when a painter is brave enough to leave the evidence of their process right there on the canvas. It's like Kustodiev is saying, "Here's how I see, here's how I think, here's how I feel." Think about someone like Sargent, who also captured the essence of his sitters with a similar bravura. Both artists remind us that a portrait is never just a likeness, it's a conversation between the artist, the subject, and, well, you and me.