Portrait of E.A. Cooper 1926

Zinaida Serebriakova made this portrait of E.A. Cooper using pastel. It’s fascinating to see the build-up of color. The strokes aren’t blended, but sit next to each other, like in pointillism. Up close you can see exactly how she built up the form, each color adding to the overall impression. I think this reveals that artmaking is as much about the journey as it is about the destination. I notice the way the rough strokes around the bow tie contrast with the softer application around the face. I can almost feel the velvety texture of the pastel against the paper. Serebriakova is really good at capturing the essence of her sitter without getting bogged down in the details. I wonder if that was a decision, or if she was just working really fast? This portrait reminds me of some of Alice Neel’s portraits, raw and honest. Art is like a conversation, isn’t it? Each artist building on what came before, but always adding their own unique voice.