Guessing

[Дед Мороз]

Kees van Dongen <! - ~ 12 ~ -> seemed "not typical".
<! - 8 ~ ~ ->

[I-V]

Сообщение от World; 2069971"

Who is the artist ?
Yet one may ask whose portrait , but it would have arrogance .

In fact, very similar to amerkantsev ( Henry Lax ), which in turn inspired by Edouard Manet ... But by the Man that can not be ( although we in France) )? Unless , indeed, an atypical and very early thing ..

No, there is still something of it ... <! - ~ 9 ~ ->

[Мира]

Edouard Manet was also influenced by Goi, borrowed songs and stories.

[I-V]

world, so Picasso is not it? We can say the tragedy of the image , dense " Mask " sculpting the face - like stage make-up ...

No, stop! It's like an early Matisse ! (I'm pretty sure ..) ) This contrast ( variations from light to dark ) is very characteristic of him in the early period . I think Matisse. For Picasso, too, " gracefully ."

[Дед Мороз]

As version - perhaps an early Honore Daumier?
<! - ~ 9 ~ -> Who in the woods, who for firewood.
<! - 7 ~ ~ -> <! - ~ 2 ~ ->

[OlegTsi]

Сообщение от World; 2069971"

Who is the artist ?

Yes , of course, a difficult task to determine the author's work he had seen before , not knowing where she is and who it depicts . We have to analyze the styles and techniques .

I come to think of Gustave Courbet . He loved the portraits of a dark background , and especially loved to write head in a bent position. While this version .

[Мира]

Сообщение от IV

world, so Picasso is not it? We can say the tragedy of the image , dense " Mask " sculpting the face - like stage make-up ...

 Thank you for " a wildcard " sculpting the face - like stage makeup . "
As long as you think , I go after and pick up the crumbs that accidentally spilled .
 I remembered an early Picasso , white women's faces , as if spotlighted darkness of the street , but there is a totally different context , they are fascinating and scary . Here is an ordinary woman , if it is a mystery , it is quite a different character types, such as getting married ?
An artist for 25 years and is a portrait of his wife's friend.
( I'm also looking for men friends with just such a secret question ).

[Игорь Гурьев]

I would say that someone is not the first series, perhaps because of "Paris School".

Mid-1900s.

[OlegTsi]

Сообщение от World; 2069971"

Who is the artist ?

I have exhausted all of their capabilities and resources. Thank you and on what aired their books.

There remains no further options other than Paul Cezanne.

Сообщение от World; 2069971 '

You can also ask whose portrait , but it would have been impertinence .

Cezanne made ​​friends with Emile Zola. He had such a terrible wife ( now I will dream of your picture ).

[Мира]

Oleg guessed it!
 
By deduction, came to the only-the correct answer.
Now, knowing the author, if you see something in common between this picture and later portraits, the ones that brought him fame.

Maybe smear pastoznost?