Artwork
Beauty
Beauty is an oil painting by the Realist artist Boris Kustodiev. It dates from 1921 and is held in the collection of the Tretyakov Gallery.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1921 by Russian painter and stage designer Boris Kustodiev, *Beauty* is an oil on canvas work that resides in the Tretyakov Gallery. The composition belongs to the Realist tradition of the early Soviet period, reflecting Kustodiev’s interest in everyday subjects rendered with careful observation.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas presents a nude female figure reclining on a sofa, her posture relaxed yet poised. She leans against plush pillows, her left arm resting on her knee and the right hand placed on the couch. Earrings and a neatly pulled-back hairstyle add subtle hints of personal adornment, inviting contemplation of intimacy and domestic stillness.
Technique & Style
Kustodiev employs pronounced chiaroscuro, juxtaposing the illuminated flesh of the model against a deep blue background to emphasize volume. The surrounding furnishings—red and white cushions, a blue footstool, floral motifs on the wall and floor—are rendered with a smooth, detailed brushwork that reinforces the realistic treatment of texture and light.
History & Provenance
After its completion, the painting entered the collection of Moscow’s Tretyakov Gallery, where it has remained on public display. Its acquisition reflects the institution’s early 20th‑century efforts to preserve works by prominent Russian artists of the realist lineage.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Boris Mikhaylovich Kustodiev (Russian: Борис Михайлович Кустодиев; 7 March 1878 – 28 May 1927) was a Russian painter, draughtsman, and stage designer during the Modernist period.
