Reclining Nude 1930

Zinaida Serebriakova made this drawing of a reclining nude using pastels. I can imagine her layering blue, brown, red and white, and the image emerging slowly. I feel Serebriakova's interest in light. She picks up the way the light falls softly across the model’s body, and how the cool blues of the bed contrast with the warmth of her skin. It's like she's trying to capture a fleeting moment, a secret glimpse of intimacy. The model's pose seems relaxed, surrendered. Serebriakova made interesting choices. Notice the diagonal from lower left to top right - the blue lines leading the eye. It reminds me a bit of Degas, of course, but it is also fresh and the artist clearly has their own take. There's a sense of quiet confidence, even boldness, in her lines and color choices. It’s like she’s saying, “This is how I see the world, and I’m not afraid to show it.”