Turkey (Two odalisques) 1916

Zinaida Serebriakova painted “Turkey (Two odalisques)” in a style which feels both modern and classical. The paint handling is so great; it’s fluid and wet, allowing the figures to come into being right before your eyes. The brushstrokes around the figures, especially the blues and purples, are quick and confident, creating a sense of movement and energy. Look closely at the face of the main figure, the way Serebriakova uses the brush to create a sense of depth and form. It feels really immediate, like she’s capturing a fleeting moment. And that touch of orange, that little gleam on her torso, adds so much warmth and vitality. The bed frame looks to be sketched directly onto the canvas; you can almost see the artist at work. The fluidity of this piece reminds me of Delacroix, who also looked East for inspiration; and the way she’s handled paint here is so free, so expressive, that it feels totally contemporary. Art’s like a conversation, ideas echoing across time. It's not about fixed meanings but about keeping the dialogue open.