Seeds 1969

Tetyana Yablonska made this painting, Seeds, in 1969. It's amazing how she lets the paint itself do so much of the work. The dark, almost muddy ground contrasts with the bright, floating figure who is flush with a bloom. It's as if this painting shows us a memory, or perhaps a wish. I am drawn to the way the blue paint seems to vibrate and pulse, especially the table below the figure. The thick surface and visible brushstrokes add to the painting’s raw, emotional quality. It reminds me a little of the way Paula Modersohn-Becker used colour to evoke a sense of earthy connection, but with a distinctly Eastern European sensibility. Ultimately, Seeds is less about definitive answers and more about embracing the endless possibilities of growth and transformation.