Ivan Kramskoy

Ivan Kramskoy (1837-1887) was a Russian painter, portraitist, and co-founder of the Peredvizhniki group. He began his artistic training in St. Petersburg, but it was in Moscow where he met other artists who would influence his style, such as Ivan Shishkin and Vasily Perov. Kramskoy is known for his realistic and expressive portraits, which capture the psychological depth of his subjects, and often depicted people from all walks of life, including peasants and the urban poor. His most famous work is the portrait of Leo Tolstoy, which is considered one of the greatest portraits in Russian art. Kramskoy's art was not only concerned with aesthetics, but also had social and political implications, as he believed that art should serve the people and reflect the reality of their lives.