Portrait of a Peasant Kotov 

Boris Kustodiev created this drawing, "Portrait of a Peasant Kotov," using delicate lines and subtle washes of colour. The composition presents a profile view, focusing intently on the man's distinctive features. The texture of the paper enhances the gentle gradations of light and shadow, evoking a quiet, contemplative mood. The artwork draws on the formalism of Russian art. The linear precision and understated palette highlight the structural elements of the portrait, emphasizing form over expressive emotion. The peasant's long beard and hair, rendered with meticulous strokes, are both a study in texture and an exploration of the subject’s identity. Kustodiev engages with the semiotic system of portraying rural types to capture a sense of cultural heritage. The emphasis on line and form serves not just an aesthetic purpose but also functions as a cultural marker, inviting ongoing interpretation.