Special
Mihail Chemiakin — Rebecca in a Hat
Mihail Chemiakin — Rebecca in a Hat
Pastel and mixed media on textured paper, signed lower right This original work by Mihail Chemiakin presents a whimsical portrait, believed to depict his daughter Rebecca, adorned in an extraordinary, oversized hat. Rendered in Chemiakin’s signature metaphysical style, the young girl's face is marked by a wide, expressive eye and soft, blushed cheek, conveying both innocence and dreamlike intensity.
The hat becomes a fantastical landscape in itself—an imaginative swirl of flowers, botanical forms, and spiraling motifs, layered in shimmering pastel tones of gold, lilac, turquoise, and coral. It envelops her figure, transforming the portrait into a fusion of costume, identity, and fantasy.
Set against a richly textured background of muted browns and earthy reds, the composition glows with an ethereal luminosity. Chemiakin’s masterful pastel work and fluid line drawing create a dynamic, almost sculptural presence, characteristic of his most compelling pieces.
Signed boldly in the lower right, Rebecca in a Hat is a quintessential example of Mihail Chemiakin’s surreal, psychological portraiture—blending personal mythology, theatrical symbolism, and Russian avant-garde tradition into a powerful and intimate vision.
