Tanya with bows Ivan Kulikov (1875-1941)

The drawing presents a young girls portrait, rendered in pastel and pencil on paper. The composition is straightforward: a bust-length depiction centered on the subjects face and upper torso. Her gaze is directed forward, conveying a sense of quiet observation rather than direct engagement with the viewer.
Here we see a child with short, dark hair styled with large, salmon-colored bows that dominate the upper portion of the image. The artist employed a loose, expressive technique; lines are visible and contribute to the overall impression of immediacy and spontaneity. The shading is subtle, creating a soft modeling of the face and suggesting a delicate complexion. The neck appears slender, and the shoulders are lightly sketched, indicating a simple garment – likely a blouse or dress – worn by the girl.
The color palette is restrained, primarily consisting of muted browns, grays, and creams, with the bows providing a focal point of warmth. This limited range contributes to a melancholic atmosphere. The artist’s handling of light and shadow emphasizes the contours of the face, particularly around the eyes and mouth, which are rendered with a poignant stillness.
Beyond the surface depiction, the drawing evokes a sense of vulnerability and introspection. The girls expression is not overtly joyful or sorrowful; instead, it suggests a quiet contemplation that hints at an underlying emotional complexity. The bows, while seemingly decorative, could be interpreted as symbols of innocence or perhaps even a forced presentation of cheerfulness masking deeper feelings.
The sketch’s unfinished quality – the lightly rendered background and the visible pencil strokes – adds to its intimacy, suggesting a fleeting moment captured with sensitivity and empathy. It is not merely a representation of a child but an exploration of her inner world, conveyed through subtle gestures and nuanced shading. The date inscribed at the bottom left corner (1927) provides a temporal anchor, situating the work within a specific historical context that might inform interpretations regarding childhood, innocence, and societal expectations.