Welcome to the brand new Arthive! Discover a full list of new features here.

Portrait of the artist Konstantin Korovin

Valentin Aleksandrovich Serov • Painting, 1891, 111×89 cm
Comments
0
About the artwork
Art form: Painting
Subject and objects: Portrait
Style of art: Impressionism
Technique: Oil
Materials: Canvas
Date of creation: 1891
Size: 111×89 cm
Artwork in selections: 34 selections

Description of the artwork «Portrait of the artist Konstantin Korovin»

By the time Valentin Serov began to paint the portrait of Konstantin Korovin, they had been bound by a long-term friendship. They dined together, drank together, worked together — this portrait was painted in their joint studio on Dolgorukovskaya Street in Moscow. Savva Mamontov jokingly called them Serovin.
This friendship surprised many: the artists were as inseparable as they were dissimilar.

Serov was always gloomy and taciturn, whereas Korovin was a joker, an optimist, a holiday man. Serov was invariably neat and dressed to the nines. Korovin always looked like he had just woken up. Serov was principled, honest and firm in his convictions. Korovin was changeable and soft. Serov painted slowly, thoroughly, accurately. Korovin worked just as he lived — swiftly, carelessly, with large joyful strokes. Serov provoked respect and trust in those around him. Korovin was loved.
Serov forgave Korovin for his frivolity, malleability of his views and the eternal mess in the studio. In him, he saw that “gratifying” to which he strived so much. Korovin knew that he had a man at his side who would never let him down.

The difference of their characters did not harm their relationship, rather, on the contrary, these two complemented each other. It is all the more curious to find signs of a joke in this portrait — after all, this is the rare case when Serov decided to play a trick on his friend.

Rough brushstrokes, a distinctly decorative pillow in the foreground, a general feeling of incompleteness — Serov deliberately exaggerated the manner of the Impressionists so beloved by Korovin. This is a witty, subtle and benevolent parody: at first glance, the portrait of Korovin looks like it was painted by Korovin. However, banter aside, Serov did not succeed in completely disguising his creative essence. Here we see full model similarity, as well as the famous Serov’s penetration into the character, and his storyteller’s talent.

Korovin looks serious, but his eyes are smiling — under the mask of concentration, he hides a light, cheerful, carefree person. He is motionless, but in his relaxed position, one can guess the readiness to jump off the spot at any moment, to start dancing, raising hell, to jump into a risky venture. His right hand is shown very conditionally, but there’s no doubt, we are dealing with an artist who knows how to hold his brush. The stroking fluency emphasizes the impetuosity of the nature — perhaps even Korovin’s idol Anders Zorn could not make a better stylization.

As for the composition, it is dictated by two reasons. First, by placing the model on the sofa, Serov made the portrait more intimate. And secondly, it was the only opportunity to immobilize his constantly seething friend at least for a short time. During the sessions, he pantomimed their mutual acquaintances, sang and was very worried (it was in late autumn) that he would freeze to the wall with his back.

Written by Andrii Zymogliadov


Comments