Nude 1932

Zinaida Serebriakova made this nude drawing in 1932 with soft pastel and maybe charcoal, smudging the marks and using very subtle gradations of tone. It's all about softness and light. There's a real sensitivity to the fall of light across the reclining figure, which gives it a sculptural presence. I’m drawn to the lines around the blue cushion on the lower left, which are very sketchy and raw, contrasting with the smooth rendering of the flesh. Serebriakova isn't trying to hide the process. The way she leaves some lines unfinished, allowing the underdrawing to peek through, creates a sense of immediacy. It reminds me of Degas' pastels, where the focus is not on achieving perfect realism, but on capturing a fleeting impression. Like life drawing as a conversation between artist and model, a process of continual looking and responding.