Stepanskyi Hamlet

Yurii Zlyden was a 20th-century Ukrainian painter primarily associated with landscape art. His work is rooted in the tradition of easel painting and engages with both natural scenery and urban surroundings.

Zlyden devoted most of his artistic practice to landscape, returning to themes of the Dnipro River, Ukrainian cities, and rural environments. His paintings were regularly presented at regional, republican, and all-Union exhibitions and are now preserved in both museum holdings and private collections. His approach is marked by a nuanced sensitivity to light, atmosphere, and shifting environmental conditions.

Yurii Fedorovych Zlyden (May 15, 1925, Zachepylivka, Kharkiv region — April 26, 2001, Kyiv) was a Ukrainian artist and a World War II veteran.

He completed his studies at the Dnipropetrovsk Art School in 1951, where he trained under Tetiana Drozdova, Mykhailo Panin, and Mykola Pohribniak.

Beginning in the early 1950s, he became an active participant in major exhibition projects at the regional, republican, and all-Union levels. In 1961, he joined the Union of Artists of the USSR.

Over the course of his career, he held several solo exhibitions, including in Mariupol (1958), Kyiv (1985), and Rzhyshchiv (1988).

Today, his works form part of museum collections throughout Ukraine and are also represented in private holdings.

Among Zlyden's most recognized works are "Morning on the Dnipro", "Above the Dnipro", and "Zhukiv Island", which reveal his long-term engagement with the river landscape as a site of visual and atmospheric exploration. In these paintings, the Dnipro is treated not only as a geographic motif, but as a dynamic environment shaped by light and mood.

Works such as "Azov Evening" and "Baltic Sea" expand this interest toward coastal settings, where open horizons and reflective surfaces create a sense of spatial depth and contemplation. In contrast, paintings like "Evening in Sedniv" and "Shevchenkove Village" turn to rural life, emphasizing stillness, temporality, and minimal human footprint.

Urban views also play a significant role in his oeuvre. In "Spring in Pechersk" and "Winter. Square of Glory", architectural elements are integrated into broader atmospheric compositions, where seasonal change and light define the character of the scene. Across these works, Zlyden consistently investigates the relationship between environment, perception, and emotional tone.

UFDA has digitized three of Zlyden's original works from the collection of the Borshchiv Regional Municipal Museum of Local History — "Evening in Dybyntsi", "Grey Morning", and "Stepanskyi Hamlet". These pieces can now be viewed online in high resolution via the fund's website.

Zlyden's practice developed within the framework of realist landscape painting, with a strong emphasis on capturing transient natural conditions and atmospheric effects. His canvases convey subtle variations in light, seasonal shifts, and the emotive qualities of a given place.

While many of his works are rooted in Ukrainian landscapes — particularly along the Dnipro and in rural areas — he also engaged with broader geographic contexts, including coastal and northern regions. The artist combines a sharp eye for detail with a creative, soulful take on landscapes.