Portrait of the composer Sergei Prokofiev 1926

Zinaida Serebriakova captured Sergei Prokofiev in pastel, way back in 1926. Look at the gentle blend of tones across Prokofiev’s face – the subtle blush on his cheeks, the way light catches his forehead. It's like she’s feeling her way around his face, trying to capture not just what he looks like, but also something of who he is. I imagine Serebriakova, charcoal in hand, circling, squinting, coaxing the image into being. The way she’s built up the layers, it feels almost sculptural, like she’s molding his likeness from the paper. It makes me think about other artists who were pushing portraiture in different directions at the time, like Alice Neel. Ultimately, it's artists having a conversation across time. Serebriakova’s portrait reminds us that painting isn't just about representation, it's about a personal connection to the subject.