Ilya Repin (1844-1930) was a realist painter and arguably the most renowned Russian painter of the 19^th century. His most vivid works capture the poignant facial expressions of human beings during times of struggle, doubt, and depression. His themes range from the trials and tribulations of Christ, to Russian citizens dealing with their own personal troubles. Much of the beauty lies in how Repin allows facial expressions to speak for themselves rather than depicting overt confrontations.

The painting featured here depicts Russian writer Vsevolod Mikhailovich Garshin who committed suicide roughly four years after this painting was finished.

Image Credit
Feature: Ilya Repin, Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan on November 16, 1581, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain
Body: Ilya Repin, Portrait of Vsevolod Mikhailovich Garshin, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain