Portrait of G.S. Vereisky 1917

Boris Kustodiev drew this portrait of G.S. Vereisky with crayon on paper in 1917. It's a muted palette of browns and greys, but the artist makes up for it with line work. I’m imagining Kustodiev with the crayon in his hand, quickly sketching and trying to get the likeness. The artist probably wants to capture something of the sitter’s personality, his character. I like how Kustodiev has rendered the face with such care; the eyes are deeply set, with such a piercing gaze that makes you feel like you know him. Then the coat is suggested with just a few lines here and there. You get a sense of the man, even though you don't know him. This feels like a private, intimate moment. It’s as if Kustodiev is saying something profound about humanity and what it means to be human.