Artwork

Inconsolable Grief

Inconsolable Grief, by Ivan Kramskoi, oil
Inconsolable Grief, by Ivan Kramskoi, oil

Inconsolable Grief is an oil painting by the Realist artist Ivan Kramskoi. It is held in the collection of the Tretyakov Gallery.

About this work

Overview

Inconsolable Grief is an 1892 oil painting by Ivan Kramskoi, a prominent Russian Realist and co-founder of the Peredvizhniki movement. The work captures a solitary figure of a woman overwhelmed by sorrow, rendered in meticulous realistic detail.

Subject & Meaning

The painting portrays a woman in profound grief, indicated by her black attire, downward gaze, and a white handkerchief pressed to her face. The somber atmosphere and mourning attire suggest the subject is in a state of bereavement.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil paint, the work exemplifies Kramskoi's Realist approach with its detailed depiction of the woman's clothing, the floral rug, and the table setting. The overall composition and color palette reinforce the emotional intensity of the scene.

History & Provenance

Created in 1892, Inconsolable Grief is part of the collection at the Tretyakov Gallery, a leading repository of Russian art.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Ivan Kramskoi

Artist

Ivan Kramskoi

Ivan Nikolayevich Kramskoi (Russian: Иван Николаевич Крамской; 8 June 1837 – 5 April 1887) was a Russian Realist painter and art critic.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Tretyakov Gallery open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.