With the Father 1962

Tetyana Yablonska made “With the Father” with paint, likely oil, at an unknown date. I love the way the strokes are so loose here, almost like she's sketching with paint. There’s a real casualness, and that gives the painting a feeling of intimacy. Look at the snow - it’s not just white, is it? Yablonska uses a whole range of blues and grays, making it feel so real, so cold. And there’s something about the way she captures the light on their faces that gets me. Notice the details of the father's outfit in contrast to the minimalist brushstrokes that define the landscape. It reminds me a bit of some of the Impressionists, but with a folksy twist. It’s like she’s saying, "Hey, art can be about everyday life, too." And that's something I can definitely get behind. It doesn’t try to be overly precious, and it invites you to just hang out with it.