One of Konchalovsky’s recognized masterpieces – Portrait of Vsevolod Meyerhold, Russian and Soviet theatre director, actor and theatrical producer, a pictorial homage to Matisse, is a symbol of aestheticism and human solitude. It was painted in the house of the renowned and already disgraced stage director, one of whose plays had found disfavor with Stalin. A short time after the creation of the portrait, Meyerhold was arrested and shot. (https://in.rbth.com/multimedia/pictures/2016/06/14/paintings-of-famous-men-10-reasons-to-give-russian-art-a-closer-look_602865) The portrait was created not so long before the arrest and death of Russian theatre director Meyerhold, so there is a contrast between the vivid background and sadness of removed master. (http://the-paintrist.tumblr.com/page/69) Meyerhold was sentenced to death by firing squad on 1 Feb. 1940, and executed the next day. The Soviet government cleared him of all charges in 1955... (http://the-paintrist.tumblr.com/page/69)