Taras Shevchenko 

Vasyl Kasiyan created this striking woodcut titled Taras Shevchenko. Kasiyan, who lived through both World Wars, was deeply influenced by the political and social upheavals of his time. The intensity of this woodcut reflects the struggle for cultural and national identity in Ukraine during the Soviet era. The portrait of Shevchenko is rendered with a somber expression and surrounded by figures who appear to be engaged in a fierce struggle. This juxtaposition invites us to consider the multifaceted nature of identity, especially how historical narratives shape collective consciousness. "I want my art to speak to the soul," Kasiyan once said, and indeed, this piece evokes the painful, but also deeply hopeful, experience of a people striving for recognition and self-determination. In this woodcut, Kasiyan navigates the complexities of historical representation and individual experience, asking us to reflect on the personal and political forces that define who we are.