Portrait of Yakov Polonsky was painted by Ivan Kramskoi in 1875 using oil on canvas. The work presents a half-length likeness of the Russian poet Yakov Polonsky, seated and turned slightly to his left. The portrait is held in the collection of the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow. The painting shows a middle-aged man with a full beard and thinning hair, dressed in a dark coat and seated against a subdued, brown-toned background.

His gaze is directed away from the viewer, and his expression appears thoughtful and introspective. The artist uses a restrained palette dominated by browns and blacks, with subtle modeling of the face and hands to convey the sitter’s features and mood. The handling of light is soft, falling gently across the face and hands, and the brushwork is precise, particularly in the rendering of the facial hair and textures of the clothing. Portraiture of notable cultural figures was a significant aspect of Russian painting in the late nineteenth century, and Ivan Kramskoi was known for his psychologically nuanced representations.

This portrait was completed in 1875, during a period when Kramskoi was actively engaged in depicting prominent intellectuals and artists of his time. The work is part of the State Tretyakov Gallery’s collection, reflecting its importance within the canon of Russian realist portraiture.