#15106 Pavel Filonov (1883-1941)

The painting presents a portrait of a man, rendered in a highly fragmented and angular style. Here we observe a close-up view of his face and upper body, with the figure positioned slightly off-center within the composition. The subject wears what appears to be a military cap, its form similarly broken down into geometric shapes. He holds a walking stick or cane, which is also depicted in an abstracted manner.
The artist’s technique involves a meticulous application of small, often dissonant brushstrokes that create a sense of visual vibration and instability. The color palette is dominated by earthy tones – ochres, browns, grays – interspersed with patches of blue and red, contributing to the overall feeling of tension and complexity. Light falls unevenly across the face, highlighting certain features while obscuring others, further enhancing the fragmented quality.
The man’s expression is difficult to decipher definitively; it seems to convey a mixture of weariness, stoicism, and perhaps a hint of melancholy. The eyes are particularly striking – they possess an intensity that suggests both resilience and profound introspection.
Beyond the immediate depiction of the individual, the painting evokes broader themes of displacement and psychological fragmentation. The fractured forms could be interpreted as symbolic of a disrupted reality or a shattered identity. The military cap hints at experiences of conflict or societal upheaval, while the walking stick might represent support in navigating difficult circumstances. The overall effect is one of profound emotional depth conveyed through an unconventional visual language. It’s possible to read this work as an exploration of human endurance and the psychological toll of hardship.