Barber

A man in a striped shirt, presumably the barber, leans over his client, whose face is turned away from us. The scene is intimate, almost claustrophobic, with the figures filling the canvas. Larionov's brushwork here is loose and expressive, capturing the energy of the moment rather than precise detail. This painting, made in 1907, shows the artist moving beyond Impressionism, which he had explored just a few years earlier. He was beginning to experiment with a more robust, almost Neo-primitive style, drawing inspiration from Russian sign painting and folk art. This approach gives the figures a solid, grounded presence, reflecting a broader turn in Russian art towards indigenous forms and away from purely Western influences. The vibrant color palette and simplified forms contribute to the painting's powerful, direct appeal.