Nude 1932

Zinaida Serebriakova made this nude in 1932, and I can just imagine her, brush in hand, building up the form with these soft, fleshy tones against that almost bruised blue backdrop. It's like she's coaxing the figure out of the canvas, stroke by stroke, finding the light in the curve of a hip, the shadow under a breast. It's fascinating when you look at how the white cloth gathers around her hands, how a few lines can suggest so much weight and texture. I love how the brushstrokes seem to dance, not trying to hide themselves, but revelling in the act of painting itself. I think Serebriakova is teaching us that painting is a constant act of revealing and concealing, a dialogue between what's seen and what's felt. It’s not about perfection, but about embracing the beauty of the imperfect, the unfinished, and the deeply human.