Portrait of N.K. von Meck 1913

Boris Kustodiev painted this portrait of N.K. von Meck in the early 20th century using oil on canvas. The portrait offers a window into the world of the Russian elite through the trappings of wealth and power. The sitter, a member of the von Meck family, is depicted in a formal pose, surrounded by luxurious objects. The rich fabrics and ornate furniture speak to the family's social standing. The documents bearing the mark "G.Zh.D." refer to Moscow-Kazan Railway where von Meck served on the board of directors. But Russia was on the brink of revolution and Kustodiev's portrait captures the twilight of the Tsarist era. Art historians must consider the ways in which images such as this reflected and shaped social and political realities of their time. We might research how Russia's aristocracy were represented and whether this was challenged by alternative, oppositional images.