A Girl Braiding Her Hair 1883

Alexei Korzukhin painted “A Girl Braiding Her Hair” in 1888, capturing a young woman in a moment of quiet self-care. Korzukhin, as part of the Russian realist movement, sought to portray the lives of ordinary people with empathy. The girl’s traditional dress—the red headband, blue neck bow, and beaded necklaces—speak to a specific cultural identity, perhaps reflecting the artist’s interest in Russian folk life. We are invited into a private moment of reflection as she braids her hair; a symbol of femininity and cultural identity. What does it mean for a woman to take control of her image and appearance within the confines of societal expectations? The dark background heightens the intimacy of the scene and the soft lighting on her face makes us consider her gaze. Is it one of melancholy, or quiet strength? The artist seems to ask us to consider the complexities of female identity in 19th-century Russia.