The artwork, titled “Study for a Female Portrait,” was created by Zinaida Serebriakova around the year 1910. It is associated with the Expressionism art movement and falls under the genre of nude painting (nu).
The artwork is rendered in a monochromatic palette, using what appears to be charcoal which emphasizes the contours and shading of the subject’s form. The focus is on a female figure, depicted in a seated, semi-profile view. The figure’s head is turned to the left, with one arm extended downward and the other bent, hand resting near the neck. The artist has employed a dynamic array of lines to suggest movement and depth, creating a sense of both vulnerability and strength in the subject. The unfinished sketch-like quality of the piece adds an element of immediacy and intimacy, allowing the viewer to glimpse the artist’s process and emotional engagement with the subject.
