Abram Efros 1921

This is Jury Annenkov’s 1921 charcoal portrait of Abram Efros. The most striking symbol here is the cigarette, held aloft like a scepter. The act of smoking, often seen in portraits across centuries, speaks to transient pleasures and, perhaps, a contemplation of mortality, a theme as old as art itself. Think of the vanitas paintings of the Dutch Golden Age, where fleeting beauty and earthly delights are juxtaposed with symbols of death and decay. The cigarette, then, becomes a modern-day memento mori. The gesture of holding the cigarette is also evocative. It is reminiscent of classical orators holding scrolls, suggesting intellectual prowess and contemplative thought. The image resonates with our collective memory, engaging us on a subconscious level, reminding us of the ever-present tension between life and death, pleasure and pain. A symbol that continuously resurfaces, each time imbued with the concerns of its age.