The Portrait of the Ukrainian Girl

1896, Painting, Oil, Canvas , Realism

This is a Digital Original of the artwork, digitized using the process. Each DO is verified, blockchain-secured, and comes with full rights for exclusive digital ownership.

The Portrait of a Ukrainian Girl by Mykola Pymonenko belongs to the collection of the Nykanor Onatskyi Regional Art Museum in Sumy.

The Portrait of a Ukrainian Girl by Mykola Pymonenko

The painting features a young smiling peasant woman and has become a true symbol of the people's beauty and strength. Before the viewer stands a stately, dark-browed, brown-eyed young woman whose natural nobility embodies the folk ideal of beauty. Her inner composure, sharp intellect, and reserved seriousness, emphasized by the calmness of her posture and the expression on her face with large dark eyes, make the image of this young Ukrainian woman especially captivating.

Her traditional folk attire, characteristic of Left-Bank Ukraine, includes an embroidered shirt, a vest, necklaces of various colors, dukachi (traditional Ukrainian coin-shaped pendants), and a scarf arranged as a headdress, giving the image a special significance. Her long black braid accentuates her nobility and beauty.

The Portrait of a Ukrainian Girl’s Art Style: Capturing Ukrainian Beauty

The artwork is a striking example of the Realism style. The artist's primary technique involved the use of oil on canvas. The sizes of the work are 58.5cm x 69.5cm. The Portrait of a Ukrainian Girl’s history traces back to 1896.

The artist’s effective compositional technique places the model close to the foreground, successfully highlighting the central idea of the piece and creating an impression of the model’s natural presence within a subtly sketched environment. This is how the artist frequently portrays women in his many works.

Unique Features. Emotions and Mood of The Portrait of a Ukrainian Girl

The work evokes a warm and reflective mood, with the subject's soft expression conveying a sense of calm confidence and quiet introspection. Her subtle smile and direct gaze create an intimate connection with the viewer, suggesting a blend of pride and tranquility. The Portrait of a Ukrainian Girl’s meaning is to show the beauty of a Ukrainian woman and preserve the traditions and identity of the time.

Explore more works by Mykola Pymonenko

Mykola Pymonenko was renowned for capturing everyday life, customs, and traditions primarily through his oil paintings in the realist style. One of his most acclaimed paintings, “Maundy Thursday” (1904), depicts the tradition of bringing home the blessed fire after a church service. His other works include “The Girl with the Rake” (1908), “Jealousy” (1901), “The Summer Evening” (1900s), and many more. Explore these and more works, participate in auctions, and purchase the artist's pieces on the UFDA website.

Digital original details

Format
Digital Original Standard
Resolution
400 MPX
Color depth
48 bit 281 Trillion Colors
Original file size
1459 MB DNG File

Physical original details

Country
Ukraine - Sumy
Years
1896
- Styles
  - Realism
- Medium
Physical canvas
58.5cm x 69.5cm
Framing
No framed

Mykola Pymonenko

Mykola Pymonenko was a renowned Ukrainian artist, celebrated as a master of genre painting and a creator of numerous works that captured rural and urban themes.

Summary of Mykola Pymonenko

Pymonenko’s art primarily portrayed scenes from the everyday life of Ukrainian peasants and nature. He is recognized for his expertise in genre, portrait, and landscape painting, playing a pivotal role in shaping the realism style within Ukrainian art.

Biography of Mykola Pymonenko

The artist was born in Kyiv in 1862 to a family of icon painter. He began his artistic journey at the Kyiv Drawing School, under the guidance of Mykola Murashko. Later Pymonenko returned to the school as an instructor. In 1882, he enrolled at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts but had to abandon his studies in 1884 due to health issues and financial difficulties.

In the 1890s, he contributed to the decoration of St. Volodymyr’s Cathedral in Kyiv, showcasing his versatility.

Pymonenko’s paintings were exhibited at international art shows in Paris, Berlin, Munich, and London. At the 1906 exhibition in Munich, one of his paintings earned a prominent position, leading to his recognition as an official member of the Munich Artists' Society. In 1909, his iconic painting “Hopak” was acquired by the Louvre, cementing his reputation. That same year, he was inducted into the French “International Society of Artists”.

The artist passed away in Kyiv in 1912 due to liver disease. A posthumous exhibition at the Academy of Arts in early 1913 featured 184 paintings, 419 studies, and 112 pencil drawings. Over his lifetime, Pymonenko created a vast legacy of over 1,000 works.

Mykola Pymonenko’s Famous Paintings: A Master of Ukrainian Genre Painting and Realism.

The artist captured everyday life, customs, and traditions primarily through his oil paintings in the realist style.

One of his most acclaimed paintings, “Maundy Thursday” (1904), depicts the tradition of bringing home the blessed fire after a church service. The painting portrays two generations walking side by side, symbolizing the continuity of faith and tradition.

Another notable artwork of Mykola Pymonenko, “The Portrait of the Ukrainian Girl”, embodies the folklore ideal of feminine beauty. The painting features a dark-haired, brown-eyed girl with a long braid, dressed in the traditional attire of Left-Bank Ukraine. Her calm yet enigmatic gaze engages viewers, adding depth to the artwork. These and other masterpieces by Pymonenko are available for sale at auction on the UFDA website.

Mykola Pymonenko’s Art Style

Mykola Pymonenko is celebrated as a master of genre paintings that focus on simple yet poignant scenes of everyday life. His work often highlights labor, customs, and the daily lives of peasants, capturing weddings, encounters, and returns from work with heartfelt sincerity. Through his art, he painted a lyrical vision of Ukraine, filled with enchanting landscapes and vibrant people. His characters were often inspired by neighbors, bustling marketplaces, and familiar surroundings.

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