Portrait of an Old Man 1860

Konstantin Egorovich Makovsky painted this portrait of an old man in oils, though the exact date remains unknown. Makovsky lived through a time of vast social and political change in Russia, including the end of serfdom and growing calls for democratic reforms. The man’s gaze is averted, perhaps reflecting a sense of disillusionment or introspection. His features suggest a life marked by experience, and the trappings of wealth—the fur coat, the distinctive headwear—hint at a life of privilege but do not fully mask what could be a deeper weariness. Makovsky, who also painted many portraits of Russian royalty, gives us in this painting an alternative narrative that is not about status, but about the interiority of aging and the weight of history on an individual. There is a quietness to this painting, an almost palpable sense of the passage of time and the complex interplay between personal identity and historical context.