Peasant Girl 1900

Zinaida Serebriakova made this watercolor painting of a peasant girl, using paper, pencil and pigments. The translucent washes of color reveal the pencil underdrawing, and the texture of the paper creates a sense of immediacy. Though seemingly simple, watercolor is a demanding medium, requiring careful planning and skilled execution. Serebriakova’s light touch is perfectly suited to her subject. The headscarf and simple dress denote the sitter’s social position as an agricultural laborer. Serebriakova came from an artistic family, and her choice of subject reflects an interest in the lives of ordinary people, rather than the aristocracy. The unfinished quality of the painting perhaps speaks to the amount of labor involved in the production process; by representing a working woman in a quick, economical manner, the artist is suggesting the dignity of labor in and of itself. Through her skillful use of materials and engagement with social context, Serebriakova challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.