Summer 2005

Tetyana Yablonska created this pastel artwork titled ‘Summer’. Yablonska lived most of her life in the Soviet Union and her artistic journey reflects the complex relationship between personal expression and state ideology. As a woman artist, she navigated a professional landscape often dominated by male perspectives, and forged her own path within the socialist realist tradition, later moving beyond it. Here, we see a departure from her earlier, more literal, socialist realist paintings, toward a more intimate and expressive style. The vibrant pastels evoke a sense of warmth and nostalgia, perhaps reflecting a personal connection to nature and the Ukrainian landscape. The flowers may symbolize a sense of freedom and natural beauty, providing a counterpoint to the industrialized images she produced earlier in her career. 'Summer' speaks to the quiet resilience of personal expression amidst broader socio-political forces, reminding us of the deeply human desire for beauty and connection.