Reclining Nude 1935

Zinaida Serebriakova painted this oil on canvas work, "Reclining Nude," in 1935. Serebriakova was a trained artist from a family of artists. It's important to keep this in mind as we contemplate how she made this piece. The way oil paints are built up layer by layer to create luminosity, form and color are key here. Look at the play of light on the body. These effects, which are part of a long tradition of academic art training, were not so easily come by. What might otherwise seem like just another life study becomes more complex when we consider the skilled tradition within which it was created. It invites us to appreciate not just the subject, but the artist's labor and deep knowledge of her medium. Understanding the role of materials, making, and the context within which the artist was trained is essential to understanding the full meaning of the artwork.