Portrait of Gerasimov as a child 1865

Vladimir Makovsky painted this portrait of Gerasimov, a child, in 1915 using oil on canvas. Makovsky was a Russian realist painter associated with the Peredvizhniki, a group of artists who rebelled against the academic restrictions of the art establishment. This portrait, with its dark palette and focus on the individual, seems to reflect the broader cultural shift in Russia towards realism and social critique. The Peredvizhniki aimed to depict the realities of Russian life, often focusing on the lives of the common people. While this is a formal portrait of a child, the simple clothing and direct gaze connect to the Peredvizhniki's commitment to honest representation. To fully understand this work, one could delve into the archives of the Peredvizhniki movement, exploring their manifestos, exhibition reviews, and the biographies of its members. This would help us see how Makovsky's work fits into the broader context of Russian art and social thought at the time.