#43756 Boris Kustodiev (1878-1927)

The artwork presents a scene imbued with a sense of fleeting encounter and social commentary characteristic of the interwar period. Here we see a young woman and a sailor engaged in what appears to be a brief, intimate moment near a waterfront setting. The composition is vertically oriented, emphasizing the figures’ height and creating a somewhat theatrical presentation.
The woman occupies the foreground, her posture suggesting both coquetry and a degree of nervousness. She wears a fashionable dress of mustard yellow, accented by a fur stole around her neck and a distinctive blue hat with a dark ribbon. Her gaze is directed downwards, hinting at modesty or perhaps shyness in the face of the sailor’s attention. A cluster of roses held in her hand adds a romantic element to the scene, yet their presence also suggests a potential for transience – a gift given during a temporary separation.
The sailor stands behind her, his arm gently placed around her waist. His uniform is clearly visible, marking him as a member of the naval forces and immediately establishing a social dynamic between the two individuals. The artist depicted him with an exaggeratedly broad smile, which could be interpreted as either genuine affection or a performative gesture intended to charm.
The background establishes a sense of place: a body of water stretches out towards a distant cityscape, punctuated by industrial chimneys that suggest a burgeoning urban environment. A stone pier, secured by heavy chains, provides the immediate setting for the encounter. The muted color palette – dominated by yellows, blues, and grays – contributes to an overall feeling of melancholy and understated elegance.
Subtly embedded within this seemingly straightforward depiction are layers of social commentary. The pairing of a woman in fashionable attire with a sailor suggests a temporary liaison across class boundaries, a common theme during periods of economic upheaval and societal flux. The industrial backdrop hints at the changing landscape of the era – the rise of industry alongside traditional values. The overall impression is one of fleeting connection within a world undergoing significant transformation, capturing a moment of personal interaction against a backdrop of broader social change. The signature in the lower left corner, along with the date 1922, anchors the work firmly within this historical context.