Self-portrait with scarf Zinaida Serebryakova (1884-1967)

Description of the painting "Self-Portrait in Scarf" by Zinaida Serebryakova

Some art historians believe that Zinaida Serebryakova painted her self-portrait during her fascination with the Orient.

Zinaida Serebryakova is the first woman who managed to enter the history of Russian painting. Thanks to her bright and clear gift, she painted her pictures full of light, kindness and joy.

Zinaida was lucky to be born into a family where the whole atmosphere was imbued with a love of art and architecture. One could say she was born with a pencil in her hands. The girl’s talent manifested itself at an early age - she preferred not to play with her peers, but to spend time drawing.

Unfortunately, Zinaida’s fate was not easy. Despite a prosperous childhood and life in Russia, after the death of her husband Boris Anatolievich (died of typhoid), it was not easy for Zinaida. Becoming a widow at 35 and left alone with her children and sick mother, she was forced to make a living for herself and her children, selling for a penny her paintings. With the outbreak of civil war, the artist was forced to leave Neskuchnoe and move to Kharkov. But even there luck did not smile on her face.

In 1924, she takes a hard decision for her to go to work in Paris. Unfortunately, the departure was not temporary, but forever. Everything that Zinaida Serebryakova earned in France, she sent home, her children and mother.

In "Self-Portrait in a Scarf" we see a young girl with lively and mischievous eyes. The scarf on her head is tied in an oriental manner. The picture brings a smile to the viewer. Not many colors are used in the picture, mostly a deep blue shade.