Description of the picture:
Sibiryachka – Vasily Ivanovich Surikov. 1909. Oil on canvas. 88×77
A woman in front of a mirror. This simple story inspired many generations of artists. Each found in him something of his own, special, invisible to others.
The author presents the viewer an example of true Russian female beauty. A puffy, thick-haired, blue-eyed beauty carefully studies her reflection, evaluating how much she fits the dark blue fabric, intended for a new outfit. Reddish hair, a white body, full lips, deep eyes, a full chest – everything in the presented model attracts the artist, he openly admires his heroine, who embodies the ideal of the Siberian beauty.
The combination of brown tones and rich blue creates a cozy, warm, calm atmosphere. The calm and simple background of the painting is designed to emphasize the whiteness of the body, to shade the blue fabric that hugs the heroine’s camp. The master was able to perfectly convey the texture of the fabric, matte softness of the skin, shine of thick hair.
The heroine looks in the mirror incredulously, critically evaluating herself from the side. There is a feeling of a certain theatricality of the plot. The author seemed to spy on this scene, remaining invisible to the heroine."