Self Portrait in Ukrainian Costume 1946

Tetyana Yablonska made this self-portrait, in what I assume is Ukrainian costume, with oil on canvas. I love the directness of her gaze, but even more, I love the way she's built this image. There’s a real sense of immediacy in the paint application. It’s as if she’s trying to capture a fleeting moment, not fussing too much about details. The brushstrokes are visible, especially in the background, and that gives the whole thing a lovely, unfinished quality. The way she renders the white shirt is so interesting; it's not just flat white, but a mix of shades, capturing the light and shadow with subtle variations. Look at the marks around the collar, for example. Yablonska's handling of paint reminds me a little of Fairfield Porter, who also found beauty in everyday scenes, approaching them with a similar blend of observation and painterly expression. Ultimately, this painting feels like a conversation, an exchange between the artist and herself, and between painting and the world.