The psychological structure of gloves

The Russian Museum has opened the exhibition “Serov. Not portrait painter ” , whose curatorial concept is polemically declared in the name. Animalism and historical plots, landscapes, graphics and sketches for decorations - everything except portraits. Thinking about the phenomenon of Serov, such a different stylist and ephemeral master, Colta.ru turned to the expert community with questions:

1) What does Valentin Serov mean for your personal artistic experience?

2) Why do we - interested viewers, artists, curators, critics - need Serov (in addition to museum retrospective)? What can he tell us about today?

3) after the “portrait of Maria Cetlinina” Serova went to Christie ' S for $ 14.5 million, he managed to shed light on the difficult fate of the Cetlin and this work in particular. It is no secret that the cost of a work of art is often consisting of the circumstances of history. For example, the works of artists of the Arefievsky circle are valued, including because they managed to survive, to survive; These paintings and drawings have something from the obstinate nature of the creators. What is the character of Serov canvases and can he empathize with it? And if the portrait of Maria Zetlin did not have such a difficult fate, could he go at the auction for the amount he left for?