Then came the Christmas holidays. Thats the joy!. Elizabeth Merkuryevna Boehm (Endaurova) (1843-1914)

The drawing presents a young girl absorbed in writing at a small table. She is positioned slightly off-center, angled towards the viewer with her head turned as if contemplating what she writes. Her expression is one of intense concentration, tinged with a quiet melancholy that contrasts subtly with the implied festive occasion suggested by the inscription above.
The artist employed a muted palette dominated by warm earth tones – pinks, browns, and ochres – which contribute to an overall sense of intimacy and nostalgia. The lighting appears to emanate from the left, casting shadows across her face and highlighting the texture of her hair and clothing. This selective illumination draws attention to her features and reinforces the introspective mood.
The table is cluttered with scraps of paper, suggesting a process of drafting or revision. It’s not a scene of effortless creation but one of deliberate effort. The girls pink dress, while seemingly simple, adds a touch of delicate charm. Her hair, rendered in loose brushstrokes, appears somewhat disheveled, further contributing to the impression of a child lost in thought.
Above the figure, handwritten text is visible within decorative cartouches. The Cyrillic script indicates a connection to Eastern European culture and provides context – Then came the Christmas holidays. Thats the joy! – which adds another layer of meaning to the scene. However, the girl’s demeanor doesn’t fully align with the proclaimed “joy.” This discrepancy introduces a subtextual element of complexity; perhaps she is writing about joy, or reflecting on it, rather than experiencing it directly.
The composition feels deliberately framed, almost like a snapshot capturing a fleeting moment in time. The cropped view and limited background contribute to the feeling of immediacy and intimacy. It’s not a grand narrative but a quiet observation of a childs inner world during a holiday season. The signature at the bottom right anchors the work within a specific artistic authorship while also subtly acknowledging its personal nature.