Thoughtful men in blue. Marrakesh 1932

Zinaida Serebriakova made this drawing of thoughtful men in blue in Marrakesh in 1932. There’s something immediate about the way she’s used pastel here, it's like the color has been laid down in a hurry, but with so much consideration. Take a look at the main figure’s blue robe, how it seems to bleed out into the rest of the image. The color is almost vibrating on the paper. You can see the texture of the pastel and the way it catches the light. Then notice the red marks, like an afterthought or an adjustment to the tonal balance in the piece as a whole. It's so interesting to see how she brings it all together. Serebriakova's work reminds me a little of Degas, especially his pastels of dancers, because both artists are interested in capturing movement and the everyday. Art isn't about answers, it's about keeping the conversation going.