Death of Fedor Chizhov 1877

Ilya Repin painted “Death of Fedor Chizhov” with oil on canvas to capture the final moments of a notable figure. Look closely, and you'll see how Repin's engagement with materiality goes beyond conventional portraiture. The somber mood is created through the tangible qualities of oil paint, applied in thick, visible strokes, particularly evident in the rendering of Chizhov's beard and the heavy drapery. This technique, known as impasto, imbues the painting with a sense of immediacy and weight, reflecting the gravity of the scene. Repin was working within a tradition of realism, but he elevates the emotional impact of the painting by emphasizing the materiality of his medium. The textures, from the plush chair to the crisp papers at Chizhov's feet, reflect the textures of life itself. The evident labor involved in layering the paint suggests the slow passage of time, and also implies the labor Chizhov himself once performed. The painting is therefore not just a representation but an embodiment of loss and memory.