beauty is in the eye of the beholder! Elizabeth Merkuryevna Boehm (Endaurova) (1843-1914)

The composition presents a young girl embracing a doll, rendered in a style suggestive of late nineteenth-century sentimentalism. The color palette is muted, dominated by earthy tones – browns, ochres, and dull greens – which contribute to the overall feeling of melancholy and intimacy. Light falls unevenly on the scene, highlighting the child’s face and the dolls features while leaving much of the background in shadow. This selective illumination draws attention to their connection.
The girl is dressed in what appears to be a traditional folk costume, with intricate embroidery visible around her collar and sleeves. Her hair is disheveled, suggesting a lack of formality or perhaps a recent emotional upset. The doll itself is visibly damaged; its face is marred by cracks and imperfections, and its clothing is faded and worn. This deliberate depiction of imperfection in the doll contrasts sharply with the idealized representation often found in children’s toys of the period.
The positioning of the figures is significant. The girls embrace is tight and protective, her cheek pressed against the doll’s face. Her gaze is directed downwards, conveying a sense of vulnerability and perhaps even sadness. This posture suggests an emotional bond that transcends superficial appearances.
Above the scene, Cyrillic script is inscribed, which translates roughly to Not beautiful, dear, but dear! The inscription reinforces the central theme: beauty lies not in conventional standards but in affection and personal connection. It serves as a commentary on societal expectations of appearance and suggests an alternative value system centered around emotional attachment.
The artist’s choice to depict a damaged doll alongside a child who appears to be experiencing some form of distress implies that imperfections are not necessarily negative qualities. Instead, they can become sources of comfort and solace. The work seems to explore themes of empathy, acceptance, and the subjective nature of beauty, challenging viewers to reconsider their own perceptions of what constitutes value and loveliness.