Портрет крестьянина

1887

Razvod s Veroy Alekseyevnoy

При разводе поделили детей: старшие остались у отца, младшие — у матери. Стасов беспокоился о душевном самочувствии друга.

1887

Garshin’s portrait at the 15th Wanderers’ exhibition

From their first meeting Repin wanted to paint the writer, struck by “Garshin’s eyes, full of serious bashfulness”; Garshin would enter the studio noiselessly, like a bodiless angel. Shown in 1887, the portrait split the reviewers — some thought Repin had painted Garshin mad, others had never seen finer eyes and a brighter brow; today it is in the United States, in the Metropolitan Museum.

1888

Second trip for the “Zaporozhians” — with his son Yuri

Eight years after the first trip Repin again set off for Little Russia, this time with his son Yuri, drawing everything the canvas might need — huts, utensils, costumes, weapons. He called his state “a creative binge” and the future characters “a merry folk”.

1890

Meets Natalia Nordman

He met Natalia Nordman (1863–1914), the daughter of an admiral, a writer, feminist and campaigner for better working conditions who advocated a simple life close to nature; she became his common-law wife.

1891

Leaves the Wanderers

In 1891 he resigned from the Wanderers in protest against a new statute restricting the rights of young artists; he had already left the board in 1887, and he rejoined the society only in the late 1890s.