The painting "Portrait of T. H. Shevchenko" by Ivan Kramskoy is a belief in humanity that has transcended centuries

"The Portrait of T. H. Shevchenko" is a painting created by Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoi in 1871. The eminent Ukrainian thinker and artist is depicted from the waist up. He is dressed in a peasant smock hat and a cloak, underneath which a fashionable urban costume of a Petersburg resident of that time with a crisply white shirt collar can be seen. Magnificent bushy mustaches accentuate the image of a popular freethinker. The unevenly tinted dark sepia background, with its shimmering highlights and brushstrokes, seems to envelop the portrayed figure in sparks of flames and smoke. However, the viewer involuntarily focuses on the clean, well-lit face and the penetrating gaze of a kind and wise man who has experienced much in his lifetime. His love for people, sensitive perception of their troubles and sufferings, and the melancholy veiled by a haze of memories can be read in his expression.

Ivan Kramskoi. Portrait of T. H. Shevchenko, 1871

• Title of the painting: "Portrait of T. H. Shevchenko" (Russian: «Портрет Т. Г. Шевченко»).
• Artist: Ivan Nikolaevich Kramskoi (Russian: Иван Николаевич Крамской) (1837-1887).
• Year of creation: 1871.
• Dimensions: 84 x 65 cm.
• Style: Realism.
• Genre: Portrait.
• Technique: Oil painting.
• Material: Canvas.
• Location: State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.

Ivan Kramskoi is a renowned Russian painter and prominent public figure of the second half of the 19th century, a magnificent portraitist, and the main organizer and ideologist of the Peredvizhniki art movement. The master's artistic journey is invariably linked with unwavering dedication to art. Possessing an extraordinary mind, energy, and extensive knowledge, he attracted the attention of progressive cultural figures. The talented artist also impressed the renowned patron Pavel Tretyakov, and their fruitful collaboration began with the painting "Portrait of T. H. Shevchenko."

Studying the works of the eminent poet and prose writer, Kramskoi admired his passionate creativity, the power and truth of his words, the beauty and melodiousness of the Ukrainian language elevated to unprecedented poetic heights. In 1871, upon Tretyakov's commission, the artist had the opportunity to paint his vivid portrait in oil. However, there was a problem. Ten years had already passed since Shevchenko's death, and it was impossible to work from life.

Kramskoi based his work on a photograph of Taras Hryhorovych taken at the St. Petersburg photo studio of Andre Denier in 1858, a few months after his return from exile. The artist did not particularly enjoy working with portrait reconstructions, but he approached the task responsibly and with interest.

Ivan Kramskoi. Andre Denier. Photo portrait of Shevchenko, 1858

The master patiently gathered information, conversed with people who knew the subject of the portrait, sought to learn about his habits, manners, and spiritual essence, comparing and analyzing materials that shed light on his personality. To give the artwork a more serious character, he chose a canvas that was as close to a square as possible, created a voluminous and relief composition, and enriched the color palette. If one didn't know that the portrait was painted from a photograph, it would be impossible to guess, as it is so expressive and authentic.

The painting "Portrait of T. H. Shevchenko" by Ivan Kramskoi became the creative legacy of two great individuals: the artist and the poet. Like a century and a half ago, it calls on contemporaries to reflect on the dramatic life path of an outstanding thinker and his unwavering belief in humanity.