Portrait of pianist Rachel Slonimskaya 1922

Boris Kustodiev painted this portrait of pianist Rachel Slonimskaya, we don’t know exactly when, but looking at the composition I would say in the early 20th century. It’s a scene of soft colors, almost pastel, and a placid stillness. The pianist sits against a backdrop of a dreamy, watery landscape, her fur stole suggesting luxury and warmth. Kustodiev has captured a particular mood. I wonder about the act of sitting for a portrait like this; the sitter's gaze, steady and calm, meets ours across time. What was she thinking? What was Kustodiev thinking? Did they chat? The brushstrokes are gentle, blending to create a soft focus, a deliberate choice to convey a mood of introspection and quiet beauty. It reminds me of the dreamy portraits of Whistler. Artists are always in conversation like this, aren't they? And as viewers we join that conversation, bringing our own questions and interpretations.