Youth of the Poetess 1967

Karpo Trokhymenko painted Youth of the Poetess with oils on canvas, though the specific date is unknown. The painting feels as if it was created using a combination of observation and memory, evoking the impression of a real place and person rather than providing a photographic likeness. The paint is applied fairly thinly, with a lot of visible brushwork. Look at the way Trokhymenko uses small dabs of paint to create the textures of the foliage and the girl’s traditional Ukrainian clothing. The colors are rich and earthy, with a muted quality that gives the painting a sense of warmth and nostalgia. Notice the books at the poetess’ side – their presence invites us to consider the ways in which reading and writing can transport us to other worlds, offering an escape from the everyday. I can’t help but think of Van Gogh’s paintings of gardens and fields, which similarly capture the beauty and vitality of the natural world. Like those works, this one reminds us that art is an ongoing conversation, where artists build upon and respond to the ideas of those who came before them, embracing ambiguity and individual interpretation.