Portrait of Madame V. 

Zinaida Serebriakova captured Madame V. with delicate pastels. Her adornments of gold draw us in: the thin necklace, the stacked bracelets. These aren't mere decorations; they are echoes. Think back to ancient Crete, where Minoan women adorned themselves similarly in bracelets and necklaces made of precious metals. These early symbols of status and beauty have resonated through time. This image of Madame V. is a modern echo of these ancient adornments. The bracelets, in particular, recall the serpent bracelets found in many cultures, symbols of transformation and protection. Consider, too, how jewelry often functions as a kind of amulet, imbued with personal meaning and acting as a talisman against unseen forces. It's no accident that such adornments appear across civilizations, engaging our collective memory and subconscious associations with power, beauty, and protection. These symbols transcend time, and Serebriakova masterfully captures that enduring connection.