Peasant Girl 1906

Zinaida Serebriakova painted this Peasant Girl, and I'm picturing her intent, trying to capture the girl's serious gaze. It’s so simple, yet so considered. Look at how the watercolour paint bleeds into the paper, creating a sense of immediacy. Serebriakova is unafraid to let the sketch show through, those lines holding a vibrant energy. Those rosy reds and earthy browns are all held in place by the faintest blue in the girls' eyes. I can only imagine what it must have been like for Serebriakova to be a woman artist in Russia at this time, navigating tradition while seeking to express her unique perspective. Serebriakova has this amazing ability to capture the weight of her sitter, the gravity of the moment. It's as if she's saying, "I see you, I respect you." That's what painting can do, you know? It’s not just about what you see, but how you see it.