Portrait of Senator Alexander Ivanovich Kaznacheyev 1848

Curator: Here we have Ivan Aivazovsky's 1848 "Portrait of Senator Alexander Ivanovich Kaznacheyev." Painted in oil on canvas. It is an excellent example of the Realist and Academic style conventions. Editor: It's instantly striking how contained the figure seems. The high collar and the weight of the cloak, the dark colors…all build a kind of fortress around him. What's going on with the fabric itself, I wonder? Curator: It speaks to the very clear hierarchy, doesn’t it? The quality of the velvet, the drape of the heavy fabric. These materials are, themselves, symbols of Kaznacheyev's elevated position. We should remember that in Aivazovsky’s time, these paints were luxury goods; he also would have likely needed a large studio and apprentices. Editor: True. But consider that red sash…its diagonal placement cuts across the otherwise very vertical composition, drawing the eye upwards. The starburst of the decoration, placed near his heart, suggesting his service, his loyalty, perhaps even a sort of quiet fire within the Senator. Curator: And how interesting that Aivazovsky, who is best known for his dramatic seascapes, turns his attention to a figure of power. It really shows us that access to certain patrons would impact the work that even the most commercially successful artists can and will produce. This commission says much about the art market and about the networks that enable art production at the time. Editor: Yes. It reflects how power uses symbolism. I wonder what personal significance those decorations held for the Senator. What stories were wrapped up in those metal and ribbons? Aivazovsky has given us access to a world of silent emblems here. Curator: Thinking about Aivazovsky’s career, this portrait provides insight into how even established artists are impacted by patronage networks and the necessity of commissioned work. Editor: For me, seeing this image now reminds me of the way we still cloak ourselves, in emblems and in cloth, even today. How symbols still define our world and signal belonging and aspiration.