Portrait of E. Solntseva, sister of artist 1914

Zinaida Serebriakova painted this portrait of her sister, E. Solntseva, using oils, and the process feels so present. I love how the brushstrokes are visible, especially in the background, giving us a glimpse into the artist's hand. The palette is fairly muted, mostly earthy tones, but there’s a luminosity in the sister's face and clothing that really draws me in. You can almost feel the texture of the fabric in her blouse; it's rendered with such delicate, soft strokes. The light seems to come from everywhere and nowhere, like some internal glow. There is something about the way the artist captures her sister's gaze, a blend of introspection and quiet observation. It reminds me of Berthe Morisot's intimate portraits, that same feeling of capturing a fleeting moment of everyday life. Ultimately, it feels like a painting about seeing, being seen, and the tender connection between sisters.