Girl in black. Underwater 2017

Sergey Piskunov painted this underwater scene, 'Girl in Black', in 2023. The woman's serene expression, combined with her flowing dress, evokes both vulnerability and a sense of freedom. Underwater photography and art are not new, but the democratization of image-making through digital cameras and social media has led to a resurgence in this kind of work. Images like this play with the visual codes of fashion photography and fine art, often blurring the boundary between the two. Is it an aestheticizing of a figure outside the social world, or is it, perhaps, a commentary on the restrictive roles assigned to women in contemporary society? Looking at photography journals, fashion magazines, and even social media, we might investigate how this image either reinforces or challenges the visual conventions of its time. This is where the work of the historian begins.