Merchant (old man counting his money) Boris Kustodiev (1878-1927)
Boris Kustodiev – Merchant (old man counting his money)
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Painter: Boris Kustodiev
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Kustodiev always painted richly. That is, his paintings were always bright, colorful, juicy. Open to the maximum, with a pure Russian scope. He often noticed such subtleties of Russian life, which sometimes no one had noticed before. The artist rarely turned to portrait direction. But if he did, he produced masterfully accurate countenances. This portrait, for example, is of a merchant counting money.
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Description of Boris Kustodiev’s painting The Merchant
Kustodiev always painted richly. That is, his paintings were always bright, colorful, juicy. Open to the maximum, with a pure Russian scope. He often noticed such subtleties of Russian life, which sometimes no one had noticed before.
The artist rarely turned to portrait direction. But if he did, he produced masterfully accurate countenances. This portrait, for example, is of a merchant counting money. We can say that it is rather an illustration to Pushkin’s famous "Little Tragedy" "The Miserly. Although the man on the canvas is a purely Russian version, but still...
Look at the look in his eyes. Oily, but at the same time, firm - I will not give it back! This is far from a tired toiler, although he has to work in the shop, too. Otherwise he could not have made a fortune and lived so well. The rich vest, the watch chain, the beard, all perfectly portrayed. And the hands? These are not tired hands. They’re already the rather dapper hands of a stingy man, because something tells me he’s quite greedy. At least, the hand on the money, saying, "All is mine - I will not give it to anyone," says a lot.
But on the other hand, without such merchants there would not have been any Russia of that time. Suffice it to recall that in 1913 Russia ranked first in terms of economic performance. And merchants were the little cogs that drove the economy to better times. True, it all soon collapsed and became worthless. But for now, at any rate, on the canvas we see a well-fed, well-groomed merchant who earns enough to live for a while impoverished.
Kustodiev is more of a landscape or genre painter. Suffice it to recall another half-portrait, Merchant’s Woman with a Cup of Tea. It is even more of a genre scene, where the main role is given to her - a burly, noble-blooded merchantess.
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The immediate foreground is dominated by a chaotic arrangement of currency – banknotes and coins – scattered across a tabletop surface. His hands are actively involved in the process of counting or sorting these items, reinforcing the theme of commerce and accumulation. Behind him, an abacus stands prominently, a tangible symbol of trade and calculation. The abacus’s presence is not merely decorative; it underscores the methodical nature of his work and the importance of precise accounting.
The background reveals a cluttered interior space – shelves filled with jars and containers, hinting at a store or office environment. A framed picture hangs on the wall behind him, its subject obscured but suggesting personal connections or aspirations beyond the immediate realm of business. The lighting is dramatic, highlighting the figure’s face and hands while casting portions of the background into shadow. This creates a sense of depth and focuses attention on his activity.
Subtleties within the painting suggest more than just a straightforward depiction of wealth. Theres an underlying melancholy in the man’s expression – a possible commentary on the burdens or anxieties associated with accumulating riches. The disarray of the money, while indicative of prosperity, could also imply a lack of peace or contentment. The contrast between his opulent attire and the somewhat cramped, cluttered surroundings hints at a potential tension between material success and personal fulfillment. Ultimately, the work invites contemplation about the human cost of ambition and the complexities inherent in the pursuit of wealth.