“Behind the toilet. Self-portrait ”, Zinaida Evgenievna Serebryakova – overview 
- Posted by Zinaida Serebryakova
- Museum: Tretyakov Gallery
- Year: 1909
Overview of the painting :
Behind the toilet. Self-portrait – Zinaida Evgenievna Serebryakova. Canvas, cardboard, oil. 75 x 65 cm
A beautiful and bright self-portrait “Behind the toilet” was written by artist Z.E. Serebryakova! It is created in the style of realism.
Zinaida Evgenievna portrayed herself on canvas talentedly and brilliantly! From the portrait blows the purity and freshness of female harmony. The artist lovingly painted herself in front of the mirror behind the morning toilet. A beautiful, young woman, grabbing with one hand a pile of thick, long reddish brown hair, combes them with a crest. She sees her reflection in the mirror and admires them. How beautiful youth and beauty are! Every moment of life is unique!
Before her – a nightstand with women’s attributes: a box with jewelry, a box for powder and blush, napkins, brooches, hairpins, beads, a bottle with perfume. On the sides are long wax candles.
Serebryakova lived in the house of her husband in the house of Neskuchny. The spouse went on business on a business trip, and Zinaida was waiting for him at home with the children. It was early winter. The room was warm and comfortable. Children played in the nursery. The artist went to the mirror and thought, waiting for the arrival of her husband. Suddenly, she wanted to draw herself. She smiled at her mirror image and picked up the brush … The picture is illuminated by the extraordinary light of the female soul of a young artist! She is beautiful, harmonious and poetic!
Zinaida Evgenievna used a bright, saturated color of colors in her work. White color in the composition occupies a special place. The canvas turned out to be wonderful!
In 1910, it was placed at the exhibition “Union of Russian Artists” in St. Petersburg. The picture surprised both the audience and the close people of Z.E. Silver. In later years, her author’s works were exhibited in the Moscow Tretyakov Gallery and at the artist’s personal exhibitions in Moscow, Kiev and Leningrad. In 2017, a retrospective exhibition of its canvases in the engineering building of the Tretyakov Gallery was held with great success.
Art work gives good, joy, optimism, charm, earthly love. A stream of sunlight flows in it, illuminating the Universe. The picture heals from anxiety, depression, and charges with positive energy. The composition has a beneficial effect on vision. It is pleasant to look at and admire the female beauty.