The Portrait

Interesting Facts

• The book tells the story of the artist Chartkov, who acquires a mysterious portrait with mystical properties.
• The portrait, depicting an old man with a piercing gaze, brings both wealth and a curse to its owner.
• The work explores themes of art, morality, and the human soul, showing how the desire for wealth and fame can destroy a creative individual.
• Gogol uses elements of the Gothic novel and mysticism to create an atmosphere of tension and mystery.
• The book is part of the cycle Petersburg Tales, which also includes works like Nevsky Prospect and The Overcoat.