A candid self-portrait by Anna Ostroumova-Lebedeva, depicting the artist at work with her brushes and palette in a muted, painterly style.

Anna Ostroumova-Lebedeva, a significant figure in the Russian graphic arts tradition, presents herself here in a moment of professional focus. Known primarily for her mastery of the woodcut and watercolour, she depicts herself at her workspace, brush in hand, with a glass of water and a palette nearby. The composition is direct and unadorned, reflecting the artist's disciplined approach to her craft. Her gaze is steady, directed towards the viewer with a sense of quiet authority. The palette is restrained, dominated by muted ochres and soft greys, which allows the focus to remain on the act of creation. The loose, painterly application of the watercolour medium demonstrates her technical facility, particularly in the rendering of the fabric of her smock and the soft light of the studio environment. Ostroumova-Lebedeva was a member of the Mir Iskusstva (World of Art) group, a collective that sought to modernise Russian art through a synthesis of traditional aesthetics and contemporary European influences. This self-portrait captures the essence of her working life during the 1920s, a period when she continued to refine her signature style. The work avoids theatricality, opting instead for a candid observation of the artist as a practitioner. The inclusion of her tools serves as a clear indication of her identity, not merely as a subject, but as an active participant in the artistic process. The work provides a glimpse into the private sphere of a woman who occupied a unique position in the early twentieth-century Russian art scene, balancing technical precision with an expressive, personal touch.