Portrait of M.Butina 

Konstantin Egorovich Makovsky captured M. Butina in oil, presenting her in a light pink dress, adorned with a bow and delicate frills. The bow, prominently displayed, serves as a marker of femininity and sophistication, its presence a deliberate statement within the portrait. Think of how the bow appears in Renaissance paintings, symbolizing betrothal or status, its form evolving across centuries, yet always whispering of connection and presentation. Consider the psychological weight of adornment: the bow, like other forms of personal display, taps into our primal need to signal identity and belonging. It’s a visual echo resonating through time, a motif reborn in each era. Even today, the bow retains its power, evoking similar emotions and associations as it did when Makovsky applied his brush.