Narcissus and the nymph Echo. Etude 1917

Zinaida Serebriakova sketched "Narcissus and the nymph Echo. Etude", navigating the male-dominated art world of the early 20th century. Serebriakova boldly reimagines the classical myth from Ovid's "Metamorphoses," painting a scene of longing and unrequited love. The nymph Echo, usually a voiceless figure, takes center stage with her body dynamically reaching towards the elusive Narcissus, reflecting Serebriakova's own desires and frustrations as a woman artist. The male figure of Narcissus is relegated to the margins of the composition, passively lying near the water edge. Her soft brushstrokes and muted color palette create an atmosphere of melancholic beauty. This piece speaks to the artist’s emotional landscape, while subtly critiquing societal expectations and offering a personal narrative of yearning and artistic ambition.