Portrait of Ekaterina Semenova 1815

Orest Kiprensky sketched this portrait of Ekaterina Semenova with graphite on paper. Semenova was a prominent actress in early 19th-century Russia, a time when the arts were flourishing under aristocratic patronage but were also becoming increasingly professionalized. As an actress, Semenova occupied a unique position in society. She gained public recognition and a certain amount of independence, though she still relied on the patronage of powerful figures. Kiprensky captures Semenova’s strong presence, but also hints at the complexities of her identity. We see her here in the guise of a classical muse, draped in fabric with a stylized headband. This simultaneously elevates and contains her image within a familiar, idealized form. What Kiprensky offers us here is not just a likeness, but a glimpse into the negotiation of female identity in a changing world. The portrait makes us consider how women navigated public and private spheres, and the ways they sought to shape their own representation.