Serebriakova self-portrait-1910

Zinaida Serebriakova (1884-1967) was a Russian painter known for her portraits, landscapes and genre scenes. She was part of a family of artists, including her brother Eugene Lanceray and her cousin Alexander Benois. Serebriakova studied at Princess Maria Tenisheva's art school in St Petersburg and later at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris. Her early work was influenced by Art Nouveau, but she later developed her own style, characterised by a realistic approach and soft, muted colours. Serebriakova's most famous works are her portraits, often of women and children in elegant clothes and graceful poses. Her self-portraits are also notable for their introspective quality. During the First World War, Serebriakova and her family were forced to flee to the countryside. It was during this time that she began to paint peasants and rural life, which became another important theme in her work. After the Russian Revolution, Serebriakova and her family were unable to leave the country due to financial difficulties and political restrictions. She continued to paint throughout the Soviet era, but her work was not widely exhibited or recognised. It wasn't until the 1960s, shortly before her death, that Serebriakova's work began to receive international recognition. She is now considered one of the most important Russian painters of the early 20th century.