Arrival tsars Piotr and Ioann 1900

Ilya Repin painted "Arrival tsars Piotr and Ioann" in 1900, using oil on canvas. Repin was part of the "Peredvizhniki," a group of Russian realist artists who aimed to depict Russian life and history. Here, the grand subject matter isn't the royalty, but the collective. The Tsar is at the center of attention but the people are the main focus of the image. The medium of oil paint is used expressively to define the character of the scene. The artist carefully depicts the fabrics and ornamentation of the royal garments, contrasting with the more humbly dressed figures in the background. The painting's energetic brushwork and attention to detail speak to the labor involved in its creation. These choices challenge the traditional hierarchy between fine art and craft. By focusing on the act of making and the social context of the image, Repin elevates the status of craft and the lives of ordinary people.