Self Portrait 1911

This is Boris Kustodiev's self-portrait, a work of 1912 rendered in colored pencil. The composition is dominated by the artist's face, emerging from loosely sketched lines that suggest a body and clothing. Kustodiev's color palette is restrained—greys, blues, and reds create subtle variations in texture. The face itself is rendered with greater detail. Observe how Kustodiev uses color to model his features, creating a sense of depth. This is juxtaposed with the flatness of the sketched-in body, which emphasizes the subjectivity of the portrait, shifting our attention to the artist's gaze. The loose, gestural lines, characteristic of early 20th-century drawing, challenge traditional notions of portraiture. Rather than aiming for perfect representation, Kustodiev's Self-Portrait is about expression. The gaze is direct, and the details are carefully observed. The artist invites us into a moment of self-reflection, skillfully rendered with only a few colored pencils.