Girl with Peaches by Valentin Serov (1887)
I’m listening to Understanding Russia, A Cultural History. When Professor Hartnett mentioned this painting, on a whim, I sat down at my computer and searched for it.
And fell in love.
Serov’s own commentary:
All I wanted was freshness,
that special freshness that you can always feel in real life
and don’t see in paintings.
I painted it for over a month and tortured her, poor child, to death,
because I wanted to preserve the freshness in the finished painting,
as you can see in old works by great masters.
Apparently, this portrait is used in many internet memes in Russia. I think that indicates how much this piece is part of their culture.
It’s new to me, and I’m delighted with it.
A Living Pencil 
Lovely ~
Fine Art Friday was such fun! …. way back when I had time to compose my thoughts and blog.
My feelings too, Dana!
Fine Art Friday helped me really look at art. We sound old, Dana: “way back when” ha ha!
I like this painting, too, Carol. My eyes went straight to the dress, or the bow, probably because it’s the center, and thought the dress colors rather light. Muted, maybe. It fact, another look and I saw how much white is in the picture contrasted by such dark wood and hair and eyebrows. Then I wandered to the window and found the beautiful yellows. The more I look at this, the more I like. Thanks for introducing me! And thanks for a Fine Art Friday! I miss those days.
The contrasts struck me, too. It’s so lovely; I can’t believe I’ve never even heard of this painting before now!
Awww such a lovely painting.
It is, isn’t it?
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