Portrait of the artist I.I. Levitan Valentin Serov (1865-1911)

Description of Valentin Serov’s Portrait of the Artist Levitan

It has long been a well-known method for one artist to paint another. They often do this so they don’t lie to each other. Or simply to show themselves in different genres. Levitan rarely turned to portrait work, but Serov did more often and was an acknowledged master of portraiture. By the way, he painted a lot and paints and pencils portraits of his children, relatives and close friends.

He did it wonderfully, and even so many years later one can only wonder how beautiful, believable and almost easy a portrait the author could make. And in general, the art of painting can be cruel, but it can also be flattering. Can give joy and upset for life.

Serov did not particularly seduce his customers for portraits, he immediately stipulated the condition of truthfulness and reliability of the depicted person on the canvas. And never once this rule is not changed. In fact, some other painters followed his example. The same Levitan, though he painted rarely portraits, tried not to lie to himself and the people.

And here before us is one of the works of Serov. Levitan died early by our standards, and we can say that this portrait was created when his fame was at its zenith and could have shone even longer, but alas, death does not spare even the famous.

It is worth paying attention to the tired look. But this fatigue is not from life, but probably from the work, from the intense labor, not to be penniless and be able to feed his family. Levitan in the portrait is still young, but the wisdom in his eyes is extraordinary. Even the pose itself is not chosen by chance - we see the artist’s hand, his long fingers. These are the hands of a true master of his craft, to which Levitan devoted his entire life.

High forehead, bushy eyebrows and thick beard - all this gives us an even closer look at his eyes. Longing, fatigue, wisdom and life - not a simple life "cocktail" of the painter.