Florence. Ponte Vecchio 1932

Zinaida Serebriakova made this view of Florence’s Ponte Vecchio using watercolor on paper. Watercolor offers a transparent and luminous quality, allowing the white of the paper to shine through, influencing the colors we see. Serebriakova skillfully layers washes of color to create depth and shadow, capturing the architectural detail and the way light plays across the buildings. The fluidity of watercolor allows for spontaneous effects, reflecting the atmosphere of the scene. The artist's hand is evident in the varying brushstrokes, from broad washes to finer details, demonstrating control over the medium. Working with watercolor can be deceptive, and the process requires planning and patience. It's a medium capable of delicacy, but also of conveying monumental forms, as seen here. Paying attention to these material qualities and the artist’s technique allows us to appreciate the painting's depth.