Portrait of a Woman 1920

This portrait of a woman was made in 1920 by Boris Kustodiev, likely using charcoal or graphite. The approach to mark-making is loose and expressive, and it really conveys a sense of the artist working and reworking the image in front of them. You can almost feel Kustodiev searching for the right line, the right angle, to capture the woman's likeness. The texture of the paper is really important here, as it gives the charcoal something to grab onto. The delicate shading around her face is gorgeous. The smudging and blending of the charcoal create soft transitions, and it gives a real sense of depth and volume to her face. But, then there's this solid, almost cutout-like shape at her chest. It looks like an abstract flower or a gaping hole, and it really makes you wonder what's going on beneath the surface. Kustodiev’s earlier paintings, with their bright colors and lively scenes of Russian life, seem a world away from this somber portrait. It reminds me a little of Käthe Kollwitz’s drawings. Ultimately, this piece is a testament to the power of ambiguity in art. It invites us to bring our own experiences and interpretations to the table, and to engage in an ongoing conversation with the artwork.