Portrait of GM Balanchivadze (Dzh.Balanchina) in a suit of Bacchus 

Zinaida Serebriakova created this portrait of GM Balanchivadze - later known as the choreographer George Balanchine - using pastel on paper. Here, we see Balanchine in a suit of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, fertility, and theatre. The way Serebriakova layers pastels, creating soft, hazy outlines, adds to the figure's almost dreamlike quality. You can see how the artist coaxes the dry medium to mimic fur and skin - the texture of the wild animal skin contrasting with Balanchine’s smooth complexion. Pastels are interesting because they are so close to pure pigment; the artist is engaging with the substance of color itself. Serebriakova clearly had a sophisticated understanding of this medium. The way that she captures Balanchine's likeness and, also, alludes to the sensuousness of his costume, is a testament to her virtuosity. Paying attention to these materials and processes helps us understand how this work operates, shifting our focus to the artist's labor and the subject's theatrical persona.