Girl dressed as Flora 

Konstantin Makovsky painted this portrait of a girl dressed as Flora in Russia, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. The image of a young woman adorned with flowers recalls classical imagery, but also evokes the romanticism of the late 1800s. Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers and spring, was often depicted as youthful and beautiful. This painting taps into that tradition, but it also presents a vision of Russian femininity that aligned with the social ideals of the time. Makovsky was a celebrated artist within the Russian Academy, an institution that shaped artistic tastes and values. He often depicted scenes of Russian life, history, and mythology in a way that affirmed the values of the Russian Empire. To fully understand this painting, we can delve into the archives of the Russian Academy, the journals of the time, and the exhibition reviews. By understanding the social and cultural context, we see how Makovsky's "Flora" becomes a reflection of Russia's self-image in a time of great social and political change.