Portrait of A. A. Blok Konstantin Andreevich Somov (1869-1939)

The portrait presents a man facing directly forward, occupying nearly the entire frame. The background is a muted beige, allowing for complete focus on the subjects features and expression. He appears young, likely in his late twenties or early thirties, with a dense mane of dark, somewhat unruly hair that frames his face.
The artist has rendered the facial structure with sharp lines and subtle shading, emphasizing a certain gauntness. The cheekbones are prominent, and the eyes possess a melancholic quality; they seem to gaze inward rather than outward. A slight furrow between the eyebrows suggests introspection or perhaps even a degree of anxiety. The lips are thin and pressed together, contributing to an overall impression of restraint and seriousness.
The man is dressed in what appears to be a formal shirt with a crisp white collar, meticulously rendered with delicate lines that contrast with the looser treatment of his hair. This juxtaposition highlights a tension between outward appearance and inner turmoil. The artist’s use of light and shadow creates a sense of depth, particularly around the eyes and nose, enhancing their expressive power.
The overall effect is one of profound psychological complexity. Here we see not merely a likeness but an attempt to capture something deeper – a man wrestling with internal conflicts or burdened by unseen anxieties. The lack of any surrounding context further intensifies this sense of isolation and introspection, suggesting that the subject’s inner world is paramount. Its a portrait less concerned with external presentation than with revealing a glimpse into a troubled soul.