Portrait of Russian actor Vasily Luzhsky 1913

Curator: Welcome. We are looking at Boris Kustodiev's "Portrait of Russian actor Vasily Luzhsky," created in 1913. Editor: It’s immediately striking how dynamic it feels! Look at those hands, those almost caricaturist gestures and expression! There’s a lively energy in the application of paint itself, too. It doesn't feel like your typical formal portrait. Curator: Kustodiev was deeply engaged with the cultural figures of his time, part of the artistic circles shaping pre-revolutionary Russia. He often portrayed actors, writers, and other personalities who played important roles in Russian society and theater. These portraits really solidified his public role. Editor: I agree! But it's equally interesting to look at the very specific application of oil paint here. Look how the strokes define the suit, capturing the heavy drape of the fabric, yet also give such weight and reality to his face. This attention to the physical reality of the paint itself emphasizes the labor and process of making. Curator: Absolutely, and Luzhsky, as an actor at the Moscow Art Theatre, was associated with realism on stage. Kustodiev reflects this in the portrait, while also bringing in elements of romanticism through the dramatic lighting. His pose shows Luzhsky "in action." How it presents masculinity and its intersection with performance is central. Editor: I can see that tension. There’s this incredible rendering of Luzhsky’s formal attire – the tuxedo's fabric texture rendered realistically, offset against this more expressionistic almost sketch-like quality elsewhere. Think of the sheer effort to portray someone as significant in the social elite but almost capturing something more 'earthly.' Curator: Kustodiev was acutely aware of his own role and position within society, which he used to document and represent the elite—but also everyday folk. His own physical struggles with illness also gave him a different view of both life and art. The piece reflects this sense of reality. Editor: It really does make one wonder what Luzhsky would have made of his representation and how it reflects a specific social moment. A wonderful demonstration of the social life of materials! Curator: It is fascinating how it captures a fleeting moment of pre-revolution artistic dynamism, reflecting Luzhsky’s own impact on Russian stage. Editor: Indeed! The materiality and visible making also give a feeling of being there and its connection to the immediate moment.