borisov-musatov self-portrait with sister 1898 Viktor Borisov-Musatov (1870-1905)

Description of Victor Borisov Musatov’s painting Self-Portrait with Sister

The painting was created in 1898 in oil on canvas.

Borisov-Musatov was a late 19th century early 20th century Russian artist. He was born in Saratov Province, where he painted many canvases. After living only 30 years, he left us beautiful paintings that went into the cultural heritage of our country.

Self-portrait with his sister, the artist wrote in 1898, since that year he already lived in Saratov. The portrait itself he created in the Zubrilovka estate. It was his favorite place, the beauty and scenic beauty of those places always had a special place in his soul.

In the self-portrait the artist depicted himself and his sister Helen. She was very young, only 14 years old. But the image created by the author on the canvas shows us not a young, flighty girl, but a lady who deeply reflects on the past era. She is wearing a dress that was worn in the 1940s.

The artist has depicted only half of her portrait. The faces depict detachment. All of Borisov-Musotov’s works are filled with mystery, imbued with the spirit and sadness of a bygone era. The portrait with his sister reflects the drama in their souls. The silence, the look of everything shows us how keenly the heroes felt the approaching changes.

Gone is the era of symbolism, the gallantry of the cavaliers and the serenity of the ladies. A new century is coming, which will never be similar to what it was before. Brother and sister as if scrolling through all the events associated with a bygone era, wishing to stop the passage of time.

The artist created this painting a few years before his death. A century later, we can behold the beauty, the elegance of that time. The painting was painted on a summer, sunny day on the terrace of his favorite manor. Based on it, Tyutchev wrote some beautiful lines. A couple of years later, here, Borisov-Musatov will create another masterpiece of painting "Ghosts", under the impression of neglect and fading of his favorite place, as if a premonition of an imminent death.

The painting is in storage at the State Tretyakov Gallery. Moscow.