Narcissus and the nymph Echo. Etude 1917

Zinaida Serebriakova's 1917 "Narcissus and the nymph Echo. Etude" is a study for a larger work, depicting Echo, a nymph punished by Hera for her loquaciousness. She can only repeat the last words spoken to her, and in this image, she sadly stretches out a hand towards Narcissus, who is out of frame, but whose reflection may be visible in the water at the bottom of the canvas. Serebriakova, known for her elegant depictions of the female form, uses loose brushstrokes and a muted palette to create an ethereal and melancholic mood, reflecting the tragic fate of Echo.