Versailles. The roofs of the city 1924

Editor: This is "Versailles. The roofs of the city," a watercolour by Zinaida Serebriakova, painted in 1924. I find the colour palette quite muted, creating a calm, almost nostalgic mood. What captures your attention in this piece? Curator: It's funny you say nostalgic because when I look at it, I'm strangely reminded of the scent of old paper and a half-forgotten dream. Serebriakova, caught between Russian avant-garde and impressionism, really plays with light here, doesn't she? Look at how she uses washes of watercolour to give weight to the buildings but leaves this overall feeling of… fleetingness. Editor: Yes! It's almost like the rooftops are breathing. You mentioned the artist being 'between' movements. Did that in-between-ness influence her work do you think? Curator: Absolutely! Serebriakova experienced significant upheaval in her life –the Russian Revolution deeply affected her. There's a fragility present in her art – like she's trying to capture beauty before it vanishes, maybe this vista was part of finding a safe haven? Notice how there's a focus on domestic spaces – the rooftops, not the grand palace. It feels intimate, personal. It almost asks you "what is a home really?" Editor: I see what you mean. The everyday is presented, not with drama, but with quiet consideration. That adds such a layer to the scene. Curator: It does, doesn’t it? It feels as though it transcends the surface depiction and starts probing questions about belonging. That´s her genius for me. Editor: That definitely gives me a fresh perspective! I will always consider this context whenever looking at Zinaida’s painting. Curator: Exactly. Keep that curiosity alight. Art is there to tease our perception, make us question. It’s all a canvas for that purpose, is it not?