Portraits of Voronezh peasant women and numerous sketches by Elena Kiseleva belong to the academic period of the artist. In a picturesque manner they are closest to the traditions of The Wanderers (Peredvizhniki). In 1907, the artist studied in the workshop of Ilya Repin and at the Higher Art School at the Academy of Arts.

In 1904, following the vivid impressions of her trips to Paris, Kiseleva painted a competitive work “Paris Cafe, ” submitted to the court of professors of the Academy of Arts. The work received a negative reaction, it was accused of imitation. Elena Andreevna asked to postpone her participation in the competition for next year. In search of a theme, style and ideas for a new competitive work, Kiseleva turned to peasant themes — quite popular at that time and safe for competition at the Academy. Now, when creating a gallery of peasant types, she did not strive for originality of plot, composition and color solutions. For the first time she saw peasant girls on a trip to her parent’s estate in Plyasovo-Yurasovo on the banks of the Usman River. On the holidays of Trinity Day there were many girls with expressive features in fancy dresses.

At the reporting autumn exhibition in 1907, Kiseleva presented her work and received positive feedback. She was awarded the title of artist and was given the right to travel abroad.

The painting depicts a young woman sitting full-face in a bright red head shawl, a white long-sleeved blouse, and a red skirt covering her legs. From under the scarf, black hair is visible, smoothly combed in the middle.