Portrait of O.V. Surikova (married Konchalovskaya), the artist’s daughter, in childhood Vasily Ivanovich Surikov (1848-1916)

Description of Vasily Surikov’s painting "Portrait of a Daughter

Before us is a very touching painting. The artist depicts his daughter Olga as a child. We see the pretty little girl diligently posing for her father. In her hands she holds her favorite doll. Surikov manages to convey the liveliness of his daughter’s character.

She has a smile on her face. She is good-natured and very soft. In the eyes you can read the special curiosity. The face is round and very sweet. It is framed by lush hair.

Ole is wearing a bright red dress in small polka dots of white. A large white collar made of elegant lace adorns it. Such detail makes the child’s figure more feminine.

The artist never painted portraits specifically to order. He usually posed his family. Here Surikov portrayed his eldest daughter.

We see a sturdy ten-year-old girl. You can feel her childish clumsiness. She is painted next to the stove. It is the stove that becomes a kind of background for this painting.

Olga’s gaze is strikingly open and straightforward. She looks at all the gazers. The artist succeeds in characteristically capturing the figure of his daughter. Surikov does not want to embellish his model.

This picture allows you to feel the special comfort and peace. This portrait was the logical conclusion of an entire period in the life of the painter. It was the happiest time of his life.

Impresses the special coloring of the portrait. Surikov masterfully uses color. All colors are maximally saturated. He strives for incredible expressiveness. As a result, the artist manages to write a living portrait. It seems another minute, and we’ll hear a child’s laughter, and the girl will break away.

Surikov not only portrays his daughter, but also conveys a special attitude towards her. We feel that he loves her very much.

The audience has an incredibly warm feeling. We want to believe that a great future awaits Olga. In the meantime, she conquers everyone with her spontaneity.