A striking portrait of the artist's son, rendered in the bold, expressive style of Russian Futurist David Burliuk.

David Burliuk, often described as the father of Russian Futurism, brings his characteristic energy to this intimate portrait of his son, Nicolas. The work displays the influence of the avant-garde movements that defined Burliuk's career, particularly his engagement with Neo-Primitivism and Fauvist colour theory. Rather than seeking a purely mimetic representation, the artist employs a bold, expressive palette to capture the subject. The composition focuses on the face of the young boy, rendered with thick, visible brushwork that creates a tactile surface. Burliuk uses contrasting tones of blue in the background to push the figure forward, while the skin tones are constructed from a mosaic of yellow, pink, and ochre hues. This approach breaks the facial structure into distinct planes, a technique that echoes the fractured perspectives of early twentieth-century modernism. The direct gaze of the sitter provides a sense of immediacy, grounding the experimental application of paint in a personal, human context. Burliuk moved frequently throughout his life, and his work often reflects the synthesis of various European and American artistic currents. This portrait is a clear example of his ability to merge traditional subject matter with a radical, modern sensibility. The application of paint is heavy and deliberate, prioritising the physical presence of the medium on the canvas. By avoiding smooth transitions, the artist maintains the raw quality of the sketch, allowing the viewer to observe the construction of the image through colour and form. This piece offers a glimpse into the domestic life of a man who spent his career at the forefront of artistic experimentation, demonstrating how he applied his radical theories to the most personal of subjects.