Date 1866

Here we see an oil painting by Konstantin Egorovich Makovsky, an academic Russian painter associated with the "Peredvizhniki" movement which aimed to depict Russian life in a realistic way, and question social inequalities of the time. The painting depicts a woman in intimate apparel, glancing sideways with a subtle expression that could be interpreted as either coquettish or apprehensive. The glimpse of a man in military attire through an open door suggests themes of secrecy, sexual tension, and perhaps a critique of social mores among the Russian elite. Makovsky often depicted women in a way that challenged or played with traditional gender roles of the time. This painting seems to invite us to consider the woman’s agency and emotional state within the constraints of Tsarist Russian society. Does the painting seek to reflect the silent battles of women in a patriarchal society?