Ilya Repin and Leo Tolstoy, two outstanding figures of Russian culture, had a friendship that lasted three decades, marked by deep mutual respect and fruitful discussions. Their acquaintance began in 1880 when Tolstoy visited Repin's studio on Bolshaya Trubnaya Street in Moscow. At that time, Repin was 36 years old, and Tolstoy was 52. Since then, Repin frequently visited Tolstoy both at his Moscow home and at the estate of Yasnaya Polyana.

Repin created a series of portraits of Tolstoy, depicting him in peasant clothing, working and reading under a tree in Yasnaya Polyana. These paintings became iconic, shaping the image of Tolstoy as a man close to the people. However, despite their strong friendship, they often had disputes regarding art, religion, and politics. Tolstoy held radical views on simplifying life and often rejected traditional high art, which contrasted with Repin's dedication to painting.

In his memoirs "Close to Tolstoy," pianist Alexander Borisovich Goldenweiser recorded a conversation with Tolstoy, in which the writer humorously complained about the painting "Tolstoy Barefoot." Tolstoy said that although he had never walked barefoot, Repin depicted him in a shirt and without shoes, adding that it was only left to portray him without pants. Tolstoy disliked being romanticized as a "barefoot peasant," as it did not reflect reality.

Repin's last visit to Tolstoy in Yasnaya Polyana took place in 1907 when the writer was 79 years old. Despite his age, Tolstoy continued to lead an active lifestyle: he rode horses, plowed fields, cleared paths, and took nine-hour walks in the surroundings, discussing philosophy and morality. The portraits of Tolstoy in peasant clothing created by Repin gained wide recognition and contributed to the formation of the legendary image of the writer.