The Portrait Summary

There is an art shop in the Shchukin market where many people of all classes stop to view the many paintings. The peasants poke at them while the gentlemen study them seriously. There are very amateurish oils among the more classic paintings. The young artist Chartkov stops by and looks through the artwork. The shopkeeper tries to talk Chartkov into paintings he does not want. The clerk gives up and lets Chartkov comb leisurely through his inventory. After quite a long time, Chartkov finds a partially finished portrait of a man with bronzed face and staring eyes. The eyes are absolutely startling in the way they seem to stare out from the painting. Chartkov and the shopkeeper agree on the price of 20 kopecks, which is the last of his money. As he leaves with the painting, people on the street seem...