Ilya Repin was a Russian painter, born in the Ukraine, who often depicted the hardships of the low class people in society. In, Barge Haulers on the Vulga (5th painting of the bunch), Repin depicts the ferocity of the labour being expected of these men as they almost collapse in sure exhaustion, only to be held up by the harnesses attaching them to the mighty vessel they tow.
But now to mention the gaze, what I believe to be his most powerful and triumphant tool within his artistic practice. His portraits have the power to stare into you and allow for a momentary lapse of recognition that only a painting stands before you. In Repin's portrait of Vselvolod Garshin, (4th painting) a Russian author of short stories, the exhaustion of this fella's body can be sensed within his glazed over stare. His psychological state is only enhanced by his disheveled hair, hunched over back and books and papers askew. The contrast between his black coat and white background allow you to simply only focus on his gaze and the books atop the table. For that matter, almost all the portraits posted take on this same effect of contrasting backdrops which lack depth. Overall a marvelous painter in the study of portraiture.
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