Woman at the pool table; Frau Am Billardtisch Marianne von Werefkin (1860-1938)

The composition presents a solitary figure seated at a table, viewed from behind. The womans posture suggests contemplation or perhaps melancholy; her shoulders are slightly slumped and her head turned away from the viewer, directing her gaze towards something beyond the frame. She is clad in a green garment that contrasts with the surrounding environment.
The background dominates the scene, rendered in an intense, textured green that evokes a sense of enclosure or confinement. Within this expanse, three circular forms are suspended: one appears as a pale yellow orb, another as a vibrant red sphere, and a third as a muted green circle. Their placement seems deliberate, not random, suggesting symbolic weight rather than mere decorative elements. The orange-red plane on the right edge of the canvas creates an abrupt visual break, adding to the feeling of spatial ambiguity and contributing to the overall sense of unease.
On the table before her sits a partially consumed glass of amber liquid – likely alcoholic – alongside what appears to be a small fruit, possibly an apricot or peach. These objects introduce elements of domesticity and indulgence, yet their presence feels detached from any narrative context. They are props in a scene that lacks explicit explanation.
The artist’s use of pastel lends the work a softness, but this is counterbalanced by the starkness of the composition and the unsettling nature of the background forms. The limited palette reinforces the mood of introspection and isolation. Theres an absence of conventional perspective; depth is suggested through color saturation rather than linear recession.
Subtly, the painting explores themes of solitude, observation, and perhaps a sense of alienation. The woman’s averted gaze implies a disconnection from her surroundings, while the symbolic circles in the background could represent memories, desires, or anxieties that occupy her inner world. The still life elements on the table hint at fleeting pleasures, but ultimately fail to alleviate the pervasive feeling of quiet sadness.