The People’s Artist of the USSR Alexander Mikhailovich Gerasimov was an outstanding portraitist of his time. He had a unique ability to achieve a life-like portrait with great speed and accuracy. Therefore, the artist always viewed himself as a portrait painter first.

Among many other works in this genre, the skilled painter also created a portrait of his wife. Lydia Nikolayevna Gerasimova, née Rakhmarova (1887–1978) was born into a noble family in the Saratov governorate. The highly educated, good-natured and distinguished woman was fluent in several foreign languages. She seemed to always have a book in her hands. Lydia Nikolayevna graduated from the Saratov Mariinsky Women’s Gymnasium with a teaching license. She had a big and extensive library, that included an old encyclopedia and some rare books. In 1910, she got a job at the Kozlov Women’s Gymnasium and became a class teacher. After the war, having moved to the settlement of Sokol together with Alexander Mikhailovich Gerasimov, she became a housewife and took up gardening. Lydia Gerasimova had a subtle taste in art. She married Alexander Gerasimov in 1913.

In his autobiographical book “Life of an Artist”, Alexander Mikhailovich Gerasimov wrote, “When working on a portrait, whether in watercolor or oil, I never make any preparatory drawings. And here is why: before painting the portrait, I ask the sitter, ‘Please, speak or move, I need such and such a pose.’ But as soon as I get to work, the model starts moving and becomes more interesting, and I feel sorry for parting with the drawing that I worked so hard on… I let sitters have frequent breaks, I talk with them and try to get them into a relaxed and lifelike position.” The watercolor portrait of the artist’s wife was created by following the best traditions of Russian portrait painting and inspired by the style of Valentin Serov — Gerasimov’s teacher at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture. The dignified lady seems to realize her worth. The portrait reflects the sitter’s characteristic features: subtle beauty, grace, femininity, and strictness that is found in a true homemaker.