Artwork
Sergei Esenin (1895–1925) as a Youth
Sergei Esenin (1895–1925) as a Youth is a charcoal painting by the Realist artist Boris Grigoriev. It dates from 1923 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Sergei Esenin (1895–1925) as a Youth is a portrait whose subject is the Russian lyric poet Sergei Yesenin, rendered by Boris Grigoriev in 1923.
Sergei Esenin (1895–1925) as a Youth is a portrait whose subject is the Russian lyric poet Sergei Yesenin, rendered by Boris Grigoriev in 1923. Classified as a portrait and housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the work uses gouache and charcoal on paperboard to present Esenin as a young man, with the poet himself identified as the main subject of the composition.
The choice of medium and the dating to 1923 place the depiction during the early phase of Esenin's adult literary career, when he had already become a prominent voice in Russian poetry. By titling the work "as a Youth," Grigoriev frames the sitter at a formative stage of life, emphasizing youthful identity rather than the public persona Esenin had begun to cultivate in Moscow literary circles.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1923, this portrait uses gouache paint and charcoal applied to a paperboard support. The work measures 76.2 cm in height and 50.8 cm in width. As a painted portrait, the piece focuses on the depiction of the poet Sergei Esenin during his youth, employing these specific materials to render the subject's likeness.
History & Provenance
Sergei Esenin (1895–1925) as a Youth was created in 1923 by the Russian artist Boris Grigoriev using gouache and charcoal on paperboard, depicting the poet as a young man; its dimensions measure 76.2 cm by 50.8 cm. The work is classified as a portrait and is part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, recorded under accession number 24.10.1. No detailed ownership history preceding its acquisition is provided in the available documentation.
Overview
Boris Grigoriev, a Russian artist recognized for his painting, graphic work, and writing, completed Sergei Esenin (1895–1925) as a Youth in 1923. This gouache painting captures the poet Sergei Esenin during his younger years, rendered with a realist approach. The work is presently housed within the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Boris Grigoriev (Russian: Бори́с Дми́триевич Григо́рьев; 11 July 1886 – 7 February 1939) was a painter, graphic artist, and writer.
