The Bridge at Gatchina (Karpin pond) 1923

Zinaida Serebriakova made this drawing of The Bridge at Gatchina, or Karpin Pond, with pastel on paper. There's a softness to the medium that lends itself well to the gentle scene. You get the sense she was trying to capture a fleeting moment. The tones are muted, greens and browns dominating, with a little splash of light from the water that reflects the sky. Notice the way she's used the pastel in short, feathery strokes, particularly in the trees. It gives them a hazy, almost dreamlike quality. The figure of the girl leaning on the bridge is softly rendered, her presence adding a touch of melancholic contemplation. Look at the way the bridge is reflected in the water. There is a wonderful sense of depth, achieved with simple means. It reminds me a little of Berthe Morisot's landscapes, intimate and personal. Art is, in the end, a conversation. And this piece has a lot to say.