Portrait of Russian baritone opera singer Gennady Kondratiev

Nikolai Ge’s 1863 painting, Portrait of Russian baritone opera singer Gennady Kondratiev, exemplifies the principles of Realism through its meticulous attention to detail and authentic representation. Ge, a prominent Russian artist known for his commitment to truthful depiction, uses oil technique to capture the nuanced character and presence of Kondratiev. This work belongs to the genre of portraiture, focusing on the individual’s identity and profession as a performer. The composition highlights the intersection of realism and portraiture in 19th-century Russian art, emphasizing both physical likeness and psychological depth.