Portrait of Felicien Qaqaan 1928

Zinaida Serebriakova created this portrait of Felicien Qaqaan using pastels. The composition focuses on the figure, sharply dressed, posed against a neutral backdrop. Serebriakova's choice to highlight his upper body and the detailed focus on his face brings us into immediate, almost confrontational engagement. The overall tonal contrast between the dark suit and the lighter skin creates depth, highlighting the subject’s presence. In this work, Serebriakova’s play with the immediacy of pastels is striking; her marks capture the texture and light, which enlivens the figure. The directness of the lines, combined with the soft blending of the pastels, invites us to consider the nature of representation itself. The artwork exists at the intersection of traditional portraiture and modern artistic experimentation, questioning and expanding what a portrait can communicate. The expressive handling of the pastels challenges our understanding of portraiture. The artwork invites us to explore the nature of identity, representation, and the dialogue between artist, subject, and viewer, underlining how the formal choices of an artist can provoke deep, critical engagement.