Portrait of the People’s Artist of the USSR Kuanishbayev as Sharoyak.

Description

Author: Lizogub, Maria. 1909-1998
A scene set within the interior of a yurt against a background of a carpet, depicting an elderly man in a traditional cap (taqiya) sitting cross-legged, turned three-quarters to the right. Attired in a chapan and wide trousers, he brings a white towel to his mouth with his left hand, while his right hand is raised in an expressive gesture. Before him on the floor rest a copper dish and a pair of dark footwear. Executed in oil in a realistic manner, the face and hands are densely worked with keen attention to facial expressions and characterization, whereas the clothing and background are broadly rendered. The color scheme relies on a rich contrast between the green robe and orange trousers, complemented by the warm, reddish-ochre tones of the background. The sharp psychological and genre characterization reveals the actor’s mastery in creating a theatrical stage persona. At the lower right - signature and date.