Silhouette. From the book. Silhouettes, 1879 Elizabeth Merkuryevna Boehm (Endaurova) (1843-1914)

The drawing presents a scene of rural domesticity rendered entirely in silhouette. A young girl stands centrally within the composition, her form sharply defined against the stark white background. She appears to be playing a flute or similar wind instrument, her posture suggesting concentration and perhaps a degree of solitude. The details of her attire are minimal, discernible only through the outline of a dress and what seems to be a basket carried in one hand.
Surrounding the girl is a small enclosure, delineated by a tangled mass of vegetation that forms a visual base for the scene. Several chickens populate this space; they are depicted with varying degrees of detail, their postures suggesting a mixture of curiosity and indifference towards the child’s activity. To the right, taller grasses and foliage rise, adding depth to the composition and further emphasizing the settings natural environment. A bird is perched amongst these plants, its presence contributing to the overall sense of pastoral tranquility.
The absence of shading or tonal variation creates a flattened effect, directing attention solely to the outlines and shapes within the image. This stylistic choice lends an air of simplicity and perhaps even nostalgia to the scene. The silhouette technique inherently obscures individual features, allowing for a degree of ambiguity in interpretation.
Subtextually, the drawing evokes themes of childhood innocence, connection with nature, and rural life. The girl’s solitary performance suggests a quiet moment of personal expression within a familiar setting. The chickens, commonplace inhabitants of such environments, contribute to the sense of everyday routine and unpretentious existence. The bird perched above hints at freedom and observation from a detached perspective. Overall, the work conveys a gentle sentimentality and an idealized view of rural life, characteristic of late nineteenth-century depictions of pastoral scenes.