Self-portrait. 1938 Konstantin Alekseevich Korovin (1861-1939)
Konstantin Alekseevich Korovin – Self-portrait. 1938
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Painter: Konstantin Alekseevich Korovin
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Konstantin Korovin is one of the most outstanding artists of the first half of the twentieth century. His works occupy places of honor in the largest museums in Russia. Thanks to his amazing vitality all his works were executed in vivid colors and endowed with a note of festivity. His works will undoubtedly be immortalized - they do not age with the years, to them the interest of generations has not fallen, critics and artists to this day have a genuine interest in the whole creative path of Korovin. The artist’s self-portrait occupies a special place.
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Description of the painting "Self-Portrait" by Konstantin Korovin
Konstantin Korovin is one of the most outstanding artists of the first half of the twentieth century. His works occupy places of honor in the largest museums in Russia. Thanks to his amazing vitality all his works were executed in vivid colors and endowed with a note of festivity. His works will undoubtedly be immortalized - they do not age with the years, to them the interest of generations has not fallen, critics and artists to this day have a genuine interest in the whole creative path of Korovin.
The artist’s self-portrait occupies a special place. Unlike all the canvases he produced, it is not at all colorful. The portrait depicts a tired, gray-haired old man with faded, reddish eyes, behind his back is a black - brown dirty background, and he himself is dressed in a dark jacket, which gives his image even more gloomy.
It seems almost impossible to recognize his former hero, Valentin Serov, but the nose and the shape of his mustache, which has not changed, except that it has turned white, reveals the handsome black-haired man who used to exude a vital energy. Yes, no longer the same, but the noble age, emphasized by the whitened head, which thinned to reveal a high forehead of intellectual, slim face betrayed a significant aristocratism.
His eyes must be focused on one of his unfinished works, as if he were saddened, perhaps afraid of not finishing his last work in time.
Despite its dark tones, the painting radiates a warm energy and allows us to sense the depth of Korovin’s creative nature.
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The subtext of the painting suggests introspection and perhaps a sense of gravitas. The direct gaze conveys confidence and a willingness to confront the viewer. The aging subject, rendered with expressive brushstrokes, speaks to the passage of time and the accumulated wisdom of experience. The stark contrast between the illuminated face and the dark background can symbolize the artists inner world or his place within a broader, perhaps somber, societal context of 1938. The red emblem on his lapel might signify affiliation, allegiance, or a personal statement, adding another layer of interpretation to his identity and his role in the world. The overall impression is one of dignified reflection.