Igor Grabar returned to painting in the 1930s following a long interval spent in various administrative, teaching and public activities. He painted a whole series of portraits of people from the world of art, culture and science. These works are noted for their close likenesses, energetic execution and psychologically exact characteristics. Painted during the Second World War, Self-Portrait combines a compositional resolution with slightly dryish, traditional painting and restrained tones. The artist’s universal personality, hidden energy and lively character are conveyed with light irony.

Grabar Igor

Grabar, Igor Emmanuilovich
1871, Budapest — 1960, Moscow
Painter, art historian, art critic, museum curator. Studied law, history and philology at St. Petersburg university (1889–1896). Studied at the Higher School of Art, Imperial Academy of Arts (1894–1896) and at Anton Ažbe’s school in Munich (1896–1898). Academician of painting (1913). Contributed to exhibitions (from 1898). Taught at the Ažbe/Grabar school in Munich (1898–1901). Trustee (1913–1918) and director (1918–1925) of the Tretyakov Gallery; director of the Central Art and Restoration Studios (1918–1930).