Portrait of young fisherman Zinaida Serebryakova (1884-1967)

The drawing presents a young man, presumably a fisherman, in a straightforward frontal pose. He is depicted with his arms crossed, a gesture that conveys both defensiveness and a certain self-assurance. The artist has rendered the figure using a limited palette of blues, browns, and creams, applied with loose, expressive strokes characteristic of pastel drawing.
The young man’s gaze is direct, meeting the viewers eye without invitation or apology. This creates an immediate sense of connection, yet his expression remains somewhat inscrutable – a subtle tension between openness and reserve. The artist has emphasized the planes of the face with shading, giving him a robust, almost sculpted appearance.
The clothing – a dark blue fisherman’s sweater – is rendered with quick, economical lines that suggest texture and movement. The folds in the fabric are not precisely defined but rather hinted at through variations in tone and direction of the pastel strokes. This contributes to an overall impression of immediacy and spontaneity.
The background is left largely unrendered, a wash of cream-colored paper that serves to isolate the figure and focus attention on his presence. The lack of environmental detail reinforces the sense that this is not merely a depiction of a fisherman at work but rather a study of character – a portrait intended to capture something essential about the individual.
Subtly, there’s an element of melancholy present in the drawing. It isnt overt sadness, but a quiet introspection suggested by the young man’s posture and gaze. The crossed arms might be interpreted as a shield against the world, hinting at a life lived close to hardship or solitude. The overall effect is one of dignified resilience – a portrait that acknowledges both the physical demands and emotional complexities inherent in a life tied to the sea.