Artwork
Portrait study of a young girl
Portrait study of a young girl is an oil painting by the Realist artist Valentin Serov. It dates from 1898 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.
About this work
Overview
Valentin Alexandrovich Serov, a prominent Russian painter of the late 1800s, executed the oil work Portrait study of a young girl circa 1898. The piece is part of the National Museum in Warsaw’s holdings and exemplifies Serov’s reputation as a leading portraitist of his era.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas presents a young girl, her curly hair framed by a hat adorned with a bow. She wears a white shirt with a ruffled collar and gazes downward, her expression rendered with a quiet, unembellished realism that avoids idealization.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the painting combines meticulous detailing on the face with broader, looser brushwork in the surrounding areas. This contrast highlights Serov’s skill in capturing likeness while employing a realistic approach typical of the period’s artistic currents.
History & Provenance
Created during Serov’s productive years in St. Petersburg and Moscow, the work entered the National Museum in Warsaw’s collection, where it remains accessible to the public.
Context
The portrait belongs to the broader Realist movement flourishing in Russia at the turn of the century, a time when artists sought to depict everyday subjects with fidelity and psychological depth, reflecting the cultural climate of the Belle Époque.
Artist & collection
Artist
Valentin Alexandrovich Serov (Russian: Валентин Александрович Серов; 19 January 1865 – 5 December 1911) was a Russian painter and draughtsman during the Belle Époque, active in St.
