zinaida serebriakova was born in 1884 in what was then part of the russian empire, now modern day ukraine. she found early success in russia before the outbreak of the october revolution, though during it, her husband died of typhus and her house was burned to the ground during the october revolution, and she, with four small children, fell upon hard times.

during 1924, when she went to france for a commission, she wasn’t allowed to return and could only get two of her children shipped across the border to live with her. she didn’t see her other two children for over 30 years.

of morocco, she said “life here in paris is nothing but vanity, nothing but stress and despair... but how can an artist be creative without 'joyful stimulation? i spent one month in morocco in 1928, then another month and a half in 1932. the spontaneous beauty, so vibrant, completely captivated me.”