Borzoi 2024

Oil on Canvas

Borzoi is painted almost like a portrait, though instead of a person, it is the dignified figure of a Russian Borzoi. I placed the dog in an antique armchair, giving it the kind of setting once reserved for human sitters in classical portraiture. Its posture is gentle, almost slumped, with a quiet sadness in the eyes that felt important to capture. The maroon upholstery and the subdued, earthy background were chosen deliberately, not only to frame the Borzoi but also to create an atmosphere of age, memory, and stillness. As in much of my work, I wanted to connect past and present — evoking the traditions of classical portraiture while allowing a contemporary tenderness and vulnerability to emerge. For me, the painting holds both dignity and melancholy, inviting the viewer to pause and share in that contemplative quiet.