Sketch for the painting Girls on the Volga. 1914 Kuzma Sergeevich Petrov-Vodkin (1878-1939)

The drawing presents a group of figures arranged in what appears to be a casual gathering. The composition is dominated by several young women, positioned closely together and leaning towards one another. Their postures suggest interaction and intimacy; some appear to be engaged in conversation or sharing a moment of camaraderie.
The artist employed a loose, sketch-like technique, utilizing quick lines and washes of color – primarily yellows, reds, blues, and pinks – to define the forms. The figures are not rendered with meticulous detail; instead, they exist as impressions, capturing a sense of movement and spontaneity. This approach lends an immediacy to the scene, suggesting it was created rapidly, perhaps from direct observation.
The use of color is notable. While not fully realized, the hues contribute to a feeling of warmth and vitality. The pinks and yellows suggest youthful energy, while the blues introduce a touch of melancholy or introspection. The limited palette also contributes to the sketch-like quality, emphasizing the drawing’s role as a preparatory study rather than a finished work.
To the right of the central group, a smaller figure is depicted in a more gestural manner, seemingly caught mid-movement. This placement creates a sense of depth and suggests that the scene unfolds within a larger context. The background remains largely undefined, further emphasizing the focus on the figures themselves.
Subtly, there’s an underlying tension between the apparent ease of the gathering and the somewhat fragmented rendering of the forms. The sketch-like quality, while contributing to the sense of immediacy, also hints at a deeper uncertainty or perhaps a fleeting nature of the moment depicted. It is possible that the artist was exploring compositional possibilities or attempting to capture a specific emotional atmosphere before committing to a more detailed execution.