Portrait of Ivan Mikhaylovich Sechenov, Russian physiologist 1889

Ilya Repin painted this portrait of Ivan Sechenov in 1888, using oil paints on canvas. Repin’s brushstrokes are clearly visible; you can see how he built up the image layer by layer, using quick dabs of paint to capture the texture of Sechenov's suit and the papers on his desk. Look closely, and you'll notice the contrast between the more defined features of the face and hands, and the looser treatment of the background. This contrast draws our attention to Sechenov's intellectual labour, a contrast that may represent a broader societal division between mental and manual work. Repin’s use of oil paint, a medium that allows for rich color and subtle gradations of light and shadow, imbues the portrait with a sense of realism and depth. It is a world away from the labour-intensive fresco technique of earlier eras. The very process of painting, then, carries its own social significance, echoing the hierarchies of labor and creativity that shaped Repin's world. The value of this painting lies not only in its representation, but in its materiality, its making, and its historical context.