Peonies 1958

Kateryna Bilokur painted these Peonies, no one knows exactly when, but probably with oil on canvas. The thing that grabs me first is the detail, each petal and leaf feels like its own little portrait. Look closely, and you'll notice how she builds up the texture with thin layers, creating a luminous quality, a certain glow. The way she models each leaf with delicate veins reminds me of botanical illustration but infused with raw emotion. I love the tension between observation and feeling. The dark background makes the flowers pop like they’re lit from within. And the color – those pinks, those greens – they're not just colors, they're feelings. It's like she’s not just painting flowers, but painting what it feels like to see them, to be surrounded by their beauty. It makes me think of Frida Kahlo, another artist who transformed personal experience into something universal through art. It's a testament to the power of painting.