The sunny day 

Volodymyr Orlovsky created this landscape painting, depicting what seems to be a sunny day by a tranquil lake. Orlovsky, born in Ukraine during a time when it was part of the Russian Empire, became known for his realistic landscapes that often captured the essence of Ukrainian nature. Think about the era in which Orlovsky painted, a time of significant social and political change in Europe. How might his identity as a Ukrainian artist within the Russian Empire have influenced his artistic choices? Did he, like many of his contemporaries, want to capture the essence of Ukrainian identity, or perhaps offer an escape from the political strife of the time? Consider the play of light and shadow in the painting. How do these elements contribute to the overall mood and atmosphere of the piece, and how do they make you feel? What does this landscape tell us about the people and their relationship to the land? While the painting doesn’t contain human figures, it speaks volumes about the connection between identity and place.