Self-portrait with her daughters Zinaida Serebryakova (1884-1967)
Zinaida Serebryakova – Self-portrait with her daughters
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Painter: Zinaida Serebryakova
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Zinaida Serebryakova was one of the first Russian women painters to write herself into the history of painting. Her work, which did not fall under any influence, is quite independent and distinctive. The painting "Self-Portrait with Daughters" is painted quickly and easily. The impression of two young daughters, catching the moment, clinging to his mother, when she decided to take a break, wearing a work shirt and with tassels in their hands.
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Description of Zinaida Serebryakova’s painting Self-Portrait with Two Daughters
Zinaida Serebryakova was one of the first Russian women painters to write herself into the history of painting. Her work, which did not fall under any influence, is quite independent and distinctive.
The painting "Self-Portrait with Daughters" is painted quickly and easily. The impression of two young daughters, catching the moment, clinging to his mother, when she decided to take a break, wearing a work shirt and with tassels in their hands. Their faces and hair are not meticulously painted, but they are smooth, voluminous and academic, like in the sketches of the old masters, while their clothes and backgrounds show unfinished and carelessness, which gives the painting a more modern feel.
The girls look seven or eight years old, and they are dressed in the "vest," which in those years was often seen on children. The mother is about 35 years old, but her face seems so young - so young - as the girls pressed against her. Her face is oblong, her nose is straight and long, her neck is beautiful, and there is simplicity, nobility and modesty in her features and in her gaze. The look is open, kind and clean, deep. Self-portrait is such a personal work of the artist, in which he can most clearly and clearly show his spiritual inner world and express himself as we may not know him.
The children embracing her suggest that she cannot imagine her life without them, they are an important part of herself. This expresses her feminine nature, her essence. Indeed, it is so - Serebryakova, after the death of her beloved husband saw no joy in anything but her children - their existence cheered her up, gave her strength, life. You can tell this from the way she often depicted her children on numerous canvases.
Children - this is one of the main themes of her paintings. Serebryakova, by the way, was the granddaughter of Benois himself. Thanks to her connections, she was even offered a professorship at the Academy of Fine Arts, but she modestly declined.
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Here we see that the artist has employed a muted color palette dominated by blues, grays, and browns. This restricted range contributes to a somber, introspective mood. The application of paint appears loose and expressive, with visible brushstrokes adding texture and dynamism to the surface. There is an immediacy in the rendering; details are suggested rather than meticulously defined, which lends a sense of spontaneity to the work.
The woman’s gaze is direct and unwavering, meeting the viewers eye with a quiet intensity. Her expression is complex – it seems to hold both strength and vulnerability. The children flanking her mirror this ambiguity. One child looks outward, seemingly observing something beyond the frame, while the other maintains a more inward focus, his expression unreadable. Their clothing – simple striped shirts – reinforces the sense of everyday life and domesticity.
The dark background serves to isolate the figures, drawing attention to their emotional interaction. It also creates a feeling of enclosure, as if they exist within a private sphere. The absence of any discernible setting further emphasizes this sense of isolation and introspection.
Subtly, the painting hints at themes of motherhood, familial responsibility, and perhaps even artistic identity. The woman’s embrace could be interpreted as symbolic of nurturing and protection, while her direct gaze might suggest a desire for understanding or recognition. The childrens expressions invite contemplation about their individual personalities and their place within this family unit. Overall, the work conveys a poignant exploration of human connection and the complexities of familial relationships.