Age of Peter the Great Sergey Sergeyevich Solomko (1867-1928)

The drawing presents a portrait of a woman rendered in a delicate, almost sketch-like style. She is depicted from the chest upwards, facing forward with a direct gaze. The artist has employed a limited tonal range, primarily relying on shades of brown and grey, which contributes to an overall sense of muted elegance and historical distance.
The subject’s attire suggests a period costume; the elaborate neckline of her dress, adorned with what appears to be floral or foliate embellishments, is particularly noteworthy. Her hair is styled in a complex arrangement, indicative of fashionable coiffures from a bygone era. The rendering of the face emphasizes a certain seriousness and composure, though subtle details – the slight curve of the lips, the attentive eyes – hint at an underlying intelligence and perhaps even a touch of melancholy.
The inscription positioned near the upper right corner provides contextual clues: Era Velikogo Petra (Age of Peter the Great). This immediately establishes the historical setting as the period of Peter I’s reign in Russia. The text, rendered in a cursive script, is integrated into the composition rather than appearing as an afterthought, suggesting its importance to the works meaning.
The drawing’s format – presented on what appears to be aged paper – further reinforces this sense of historical significance and authenticity. It evokes the feeling of a document or study unearthed from archives. The presence of Roman numerals in the upper left corner suggests it might be part of a larger series, perhaps illustrating key figures or events associated with that era.
Subtly, the drawing conveys an impression of refinement and cultural transformation. The woman’s appearance – her dress, hairstyle, and demeanor – implies an embrace of Western European customs and aesthetics during Peters reforms. However, the muted palette and somewhat restrained emotional expression also suggest a degree of formality or perhaps even a sense of constraint inherent in adopting foreign influences within a traditional society. Ultimately, the drawing serves as a visual marker of a pivotal moment in Russian history – a period of modernization and cultural exchange.