"The Lonely Guitarist" by Vasily Perov

This little painting is something I had discovered on Internet and always loved very much, though I surely don't agree with the English title given to it. You could name it anything besides "bachelor guitarist" which is way too simplistic for my taste - the sad, lonely, sensitive musician on the painting is adorable little soul finding solace in music and it makes me want to hug him. By the state of his tattered and worn out clothes you can tell he travelled a lot, he doesn't have money and perhaps he is a travelling musician who has finally found a little corner for himself where alone with his thoughts he rests for a while and strums his instrument alone just for himself, not for the audience.

It is almost unbearably poignant and heartbreaking painting describing a lost soul  - I could probably write a whole novel about him - just like every time I see homeless people on the streets I am aware they used to be someone's children, this little fellow was once loved and cared for but now at certain point of his life he faces the truth that basically we are always alone in our paths. Whoever Vasily Petrov was, he definitely showed great psychological understanding of what he wanted to say here, there is a lot of affectionate details (from worn-out boots to a half filled glass on the table, to a musicians face) and the whole painting just burst with love and compassion. It had always touched me deeply and I absolutely love this painting.

Just like the movie "My Dinner with André" that so eloquently talked about choices in life (money versus creativity, security versus soul search) this little painting could be about choice we make: this little guy perhaps could have been sheltered as someone's servant but his choice in life was different and he went on to became travelling musician. Or whatever job he does, when alone with himself he gives himself to music that serves like a meditation and healing balm for his loneliness. You can see it in his face, in the way he gently plays his instrument and dreams far away from reality.