#22881 Boris Kustodiev (1878-1927)

Description of Boris Kustodiev’s painting "The Girl with Apples by Irina Kustodiev

The author of many bright, cheerful paintings, B.M. Kustodiev during his creative life created more than a dozen paintings dedicated to the family: his wife - Yulia Evstafyevna and children - the elder Kirill and the younger Irisha. Love and family happiness can be clearly seen in the bright, colorful, airy works.

The first portrait of his little daughter Irina in 1905 was made in the form of a pencil drawing and, as the artist’s notes indicate, four hours after her birth. A charming smile shines on the infant’s clear face. A simple and lively drawing was the beginning of a whole gallery of wonderful canvases.

Irina Kustodieva can be called the artist’s favorite and best model. He painted her in his wife’s arms, in the family circle at the set table, captured her first steps; Irina with fruits, flowers, animals and dolls - always beautiful, ruddy, healthy and smartly dressed.

"Girl with Apples" is a work from 1918. To it the Russian artist made a note: "Portrait of Irina Kustodieva". This canvas depicts a portrait of his daughter in profile. A bowl in the hands of a thirteen-year-old girl extends beyond the border of the picture. The viewer can see several fruits of ripe yellow apples with blush.

The girl’s face is childishly cute, her long golden hair tucked behind her shoulders in a lush orange bow. The dark blue dress does not draw attention to itself, nor does the background of the portrait, which is in dark brown tones. The model’s gaze, focused and serious, betrays an already young girl, gentle and thoughtful.

"The Girl with Apples" is done in the style of realism. Dense layers of oil paint thicken on the canvas in the shaded areas. Glimpses of light smoothly lie on the face, hair, dress of Ira and fruit in her hands, making the picture come to life and authentically tell the audience about the life of the beloved daughter of the beautiful Russian artist.