Girl with a candle. Self portrait 1911

Zinaida Serebriakova painted this self-portrait, titled ‘Girl with a Candle’, in Russia at the turn of the twentieth century. Look closely, and you'll see that the subject's gaze meets ours, illuminated by candlelight against a dark background. The painting’s concern with the appearance of women can be situated in the context of the Russian art world, dominated by male figures and institutions such as the Imperial Academy of Arts. As female artists sought recognition and representation within this male-dominated sphere, they often had to negotiate societal expectations and gendered stereotypes. Serebriakova adopts an informal style which shows an intimacy that contrasts with the formal portraiture of the time. Her decision to paint herself may also represent a desire for agency and self-expression within a culture that often restricted women's roles and opportunities. To better understand this image, we might consult feminist art history, archival sources, and social histories of early twentieth-century Russia. It is through such inquiries that the contingent and historical meaning of art is revealed.