Portrait of Irina Zakolodkina 1943

Curator: Zinaida Serebriakova painted this watercolor portrait of Irina Zakolodkina in 1943. Editor: The subject has a very open, direct gaze; the warm blush on her cheeks and the soft, blended watercolors give her an approachable, almost naive air. Curator: Absolutely. There’s a sincerity to the way Serebriakova captures her, especially considering the broader historical context of 1943. I'm drawn to the unassuming nature of her vest with the stripes, in juxtaposition to the very ornate cameo-like brooch. Editor: Those stripes are fascinating—there’s a considered design there, handmade almost. The colors themselves, that precise juxtaposition of ochre and mauve, must have taken thought and access, you know? The war would’ve presented constraints on pigments, materials, even the act of painting itself. How did Serebriakova secure the resources in wartime Paris to make this? Curator: A poignant observation! I see the colorful stripes on Irina's vest almost as signals – defiance, optimism, the necessity of beauty against a bleak backdrop. Stripes throughout art history can have many meanings; sometimes defiance, but equally they are celebratory. This also may refer back to pre-revolution Russia when brighter more elaborate textiles would have been commonplace, adding to this feeling of an iconic almost idealised time. Editor: Or, perhaps, just a well-loved and mended vest. But even the way the light hits it; the soft weave suggested by the watercolour technique gives it a real tangible weight. We're not seeing simply representation, but something that exists beyond the flat plane. And her gaze locks right onto you. Curator: And it's that tension between reality and aspiration, perhaps, that makes it so compelling. Serebriakova clearly aims to not simply portray the physical appearance of Irina but also the sense of resilience during a time of terrible duress. Editor: Ultimately it's an image filled with subtle gestures that leave one with more questions than answers, despite its straightforward presentation. The war and its impact is unseen but subtly informs the scene and adds emotional gravity. Curator: I think I see the portrait as a marker of how people found ways to carry on even when everything seemed lost; the portrait stands as a signal of defiant life. Editor: An unassuming object brimming with quietly humming resilience.