A Life Etched in Likeness: The Portraiture of Elizabeth Violet Polunin Elizabeth Violet Polunin (née Anna Elizabeth Violet Constable, 1897-1996) was a British portrait artist whose work spanned much of the 20th century. Though not a household name, her canvases offer a fascinating glimpse into the lives and personalities of prominent figures in the arts and society, rendered with a distinctive blend of classical technique and sensitive observation. Polunin’s career unfolded against a backdrop of shifting artistic styles – from the lingering influence of Victorian realism to the rise of moder…