Portrait LN Andreeva (Summer Vacation) Ilya Repin (1844-1930)

Description of Ilya Repin’s Portrait of Andreev

The painting "Portrait of Andreev" is a portrait depicting the famous Russian writer Leonid Nikolaevich Andreev.

The second title of the work is "Summer Recreation." The artist deliberately came up with this second title to confuse viewers. At first glance, it seems to us that the canvas depicts a man sitting relaxed on a bench somewhere in the depths of the garden. It’s a warm, summer day, the sun is shining. All around is lush, green vegetation, with a scattering of small white flowers. But this impression is deceptive. The picture was painted in 1904, a long time ago, when the Art Nouveau style was dominant in the world. Repin also did not stand aside and, inspired by the rebel movement, embodied in this work the whole revolutionary spirit of the generation.

Before us is a portrait of Leonid Andreev. The first thing that stands out in the picture is the man’s clothing. The red shirt, which looks like a bloody stain on the background of green grass. The author deliberately uses scarlet to convey the state of mind of the portrayed man. The writer Andreev was known as a daring, restless man. He embodied the world’s chaos. The blood-red shirt is a reflection of his inner world. The contrast between the red shirt, the snow-white bench, and the greenery in the background is particularly interesting. Despite the fact that the writer is sitting, you can feel the movement, the energy emanating from the picture.

Separately, we should pay attention to the face of Andreev. His gaze, staring into the distance, pensive, but dissatisfied. You can see the internal struggle and tension. Andreev’s facial features also tell us about his strong, strong-willed character - straight nose, sharp chin, broad forehead and compressed lips. The sitting pose also tells us about the dramatic nature of the image. His face is slightly turned to the side, and his arms cover the entire length of the bench.