Model. 1905 Valentin Serov (1865-1911)

Description of Valentin Serov’s painting "Female Nudes".

Valentin Serov is known more as a graphic artist and portrait painter. In 1905 he wrote the picture "Naturwoman", about which every year there is more and more speculation - who is depicted in the picture?

Valentin Alexandrovich understood what role in painting plays the female nature, the female image. There are opinions that the painting depicts Vera Ivanovna Kalashnikova. Who she was, it is not known. It is only known that Vera Kalashnikova was his favorite sitter, who is depicted in several paintings.

The picture is made in a frame with eight corners, the most part of the sheet free of paint. Serov can only afford to paint what interests him. The technique of oil painting does not allow such liberties - a blank canvas will fall out of the overall picture. In the depicted sitter, we can see how Serov managed to convey the human dignity, the nobility of the girl.

Valentin Alexandrovich Serov lived a short life, died at forty-six years old. His creative life was about thirty years. The artist himself perceived his talent of a portrait painter as a curse. He lived modestly, did not want to acquire popularity, was not seen in the publication of loud manifestos. All the works of the great artist boldly occupied a niche in the stages of development of Russian realism. Thanks to Valentin Alexandrovich’s gift of absorbing the achievements of all the artists who came before him, as well as the legacy of artists of the new generation, we can enjoy his works, which are placed in the galleries of the Russian Federation.