Snowdrops 2003

Tetyana Yablonska made this pastel drawing of snowdrops sometime in the 20th century. It’s a lovely sketch, really, where the process feels so close to the surface. Look at the way she builds the image with these small, almost scribbled marks. It’s like she’s feeling her way through the subject, discovering the forms as she goes. The colors are muted, mostly whites, greens, and blues, giving the whole thing a soft, dreamy quality. It’s not about capturing every detail perfectly, but more about conveying the feeling of these delicate flowers. The marks around the vase, for example, are particularly interesting, because they are light, almost translucent, yet they hold the form of the vase. You can see the influence of Impressionism here, and maybe even a touch of someone like Morandi, in the way she simplifies and distills the subject down to its essence. It’s a reminder that art doesn’t always need to shout to be heard. Sometimes, the quietest voices can be the most profound.