Ivan the Terrible and his son Ivan on November 16, 1581
Ilya Repin · 1883
Why it's great
A Russian tsar cradles his own son, whom he has just struck in a fit of rage, and stares in horror at what he's done. Repin painted the terror and regret on his face so well that it shocked viewers; one even slashed the canvas in 1913 and had to be repaired. It's famous for its raw emotion and for how it shows that power can lead to tragedy.
Where to see it
📍 State Tretyakov GalleryMoscow, Russia
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Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
Ilya Repin was born in a small town in Ukraine, then part of the Russian Empire. He trained in Saint Petersburg and traveled to Paris before becoming Russia's most celebrated realist painter. He lived much of his later life in a country house near the Finnish border, now a museum. His huge paintings of people, history, and ordinary life made him a national treasure.
