Lady with Necklace 1955

Stella Drabkin created "Lady with Necklace", date unknown, using expressive lines and color. Drabkin, born in Russia and later living in London, was part of a generation of Jewish émigré artists whose work engaged with questions of identity and representation. The woman's gaze, averted yet intense, hints at an inner world, while her simple necklace and bobbed hair place her in the interwar period when traditional gender roles were being challenged. The vibrant hair color against the muted background creates a striking contrast, perhaps mirroring the tensions between tradition and modernity that women navigated at the time. Drabkin's choice to depict a woman in this way reflects broader shifts in how women were seen and saw themselves in the early to mid-20th century. In this portrait, Drabkin captures a sense of quiet strength. The woman's poised demeanor invites us to consider the complexities of female identity.