Portrait of a girl
This work by Valentina Petrova showcases the artist's skill in conveying emotion through minimal means. The sketch, rendered in pencil, focuses on the expression of the portrayed figure. The image of the boy in warm clothing conveys a sense of tenderness and calm. Light and confident lines create a sense of liveliness. The composition centers on the face, offering viewers an immediate connection with the character. The pencil strokes add texture and depth to the drawing, creating the illusion of three-dimensional space. Petrova, known for her ability to capture emotional range through portraits, uses simplicity in detail to emphasize the sincerity and immediacy of the moment. This drawing invites viewers to reflect on the subtleties of human emotions and their expression.
Valentina Petrova
Graphic artist. In 1948 she graduated from the graphic arts faculty of the Repin Institute, defending her thesis with distinction on illustrations for V. Gorbatov's book 'The Unconquered'. Since 1948 — a member of the Union of Artists of the USSR. Since 1968 — Merited Artist of the RSFSR. She worked at Leningrad publishing houses and participated in exhibitions from 1950. She began working as an illustrator at Detgiz while still a student, and from 1950 created books in co-authorship with her husband at various publishing houses. She also had a lithographic studio where she created many autolithographs, including the 'Blockade' cycle of 1985, part of which she donated to the State Museum of the History of St. Petersburg. The large-format sheets of the cycle are a synthesis of impressions from the blockade years in a large compositional form and complex tonality. The composition 'Lecture on Art in an Air-Raid Shelter, Winter 1942' is particularly notable — it glorifies the heights of the human spirit, conveying the emotional authenticity of a time when deprivation and hunger could not prevent people from believing in beauty. Awards: Certificate of Honor from the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR for creative work in book art, 30 April 1966. 1965 — Gold Medal at the Sholokhov competition at the Leipzig Exhibition. 1969 — First Prize of the Union of Artists of the USSR for a series of works about Lenin.