Every evening the girls guessed Epiphany. Elizabeth Merkuryevna Boehm (Endaurova) (1843-1914)

The composition presents two young girls engaged in a card game within what appears to be a modestly furnished interior. The scene is bathed in a warm, diffused light emanating from an unseen source, contributing to a sense of intimacy and quiet contemplation. Both figures are positioned relatively close to the viewer, fostering a feeling of immediacy and connection.
The artist depicted the girls with a remarkable attention to detail; their expressions suggest a mixture of concentration and anticipation as they study their cards. Their attire – simple white blouses and dark skirts – indicates a background of modest means. The presence of scattered playing cards on a worn, patterned rug reinforces this sense of everyday life. A small wooden bowl rests near one girl, possibly containing treats or tokens related to the game.
The backdrop is deliberately blurred, suggesting a focus on the girls themselves and their interaction. Above them, an inscription in Cyrillic script adds another layer of meaning, hinting at a narrative context beyond the immediate visual elements. The aged appearance of the paper upon which this text is written suggests a sense of history or tradition.
Subtly, the painting evokes themes of childhood innocence, domesticity, and perhaps even longing. The girls’ focused expressions could be interpreted as representing a desire for something more – a yearning for the future symbolized by the game of Epiphany, which traditionally marks the end of Christmas festivities and anticipates the coming of winter. The muted color palette and soft lighting contribute to an overall atmosphere of melancholy and quiet reflection, suggesting that even in moments of simple pleasure, there is an underlying sense of transience and loss.