Self Portrait 1995

Editor: This is Tetyana Yablonska’s "Self Portrait" from 1995, rendered with oil paint in a distinct impasto style. The texture of the paint gives it so much depth. What stands out to me is the vulnerability and age in her expression. What symbols or imagery do you observe here? Curator: The enduring symbol of the self-portrait itself invites immediate scrutiny: what is she trying to say, looking back at herself? Observe the subdued color palette, almost monochromatic, creating an atmosphere of introspection and somber reflection, quite different from her earlier vibrant works. Editor: Interesting. So, the lack of vibrant colors might be a symbolic choice reflecting something deeper than just aesthetic preference? Curator: Precisely! Think of the face, a map of experience. The heavy lines and textures formed through impasto—the cultural memory etched onto the canvas. Yablonska's gaze meets ours directly, forcing a dialogue across time. But, tell me, what feeling does her direct gaze evoke for you? Editor: A sense of intimacy and honesty, like she’s letting you see her unfiltered. Perhaps that’s the continuity of the ‘self’ as represented here. Curator: Consider, also, the tradition of artists painting themselves in old age—Rembrandt, Goya, even Van Gogh. Yablonska inserts herself into this visual canon, acknowledging mortality while affirming artistic legacy. A bold statement from a celebrated artist in the twilight of her career, don’t you think? Editor: Absolutely! I now see how the visual language speaks to a larger cultural conversation. Thank you for making the imagery resonate with such depth and layers of meaning. Curator: It’s a conversation that continues with each new viewer, a testament to the power of symbolic representation.