Musicians (Arab and Negro) 1928

Zinaida Serebriakova made this watercolor painting, Musicians (Arab and Negro), sometime in the early 20th century. What immediately grabs me is her sketchy, free-flowing lines. It’s like she's capturing a fleeting moment, a jam session unfolding before her eyes. I’m also drawn to the way she uses color to create a sense of atmosphere. The muted tones and soft washes give the painting a dreamlike quality, as if we're peering into a memory. Look at the way she renders the musicians’ clothing with these delicate blues and reds. The way she’s used these colors give them each depth and dimension. It’s this combination of precision and spontaneity that makes Serebriakova’s work so compelling, and reminds me of Degas, who also captured these off-guard moments, and left you thinking about the world.