Gallery, 2006 – Archive of Oil Paintings
Indulge in the beauty of the past with Igor Shulman’s collection of original oil paintings created in 2006. Each painting is a testament to the artist’s unique style and captures a moment in time with its vivid colors and expressive brushstrokes.
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2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
The main subject is a young woman with her hair pulled back in a bun, seated with her legs tucked beneath her. She's dressed in what appears to be a loose, flowing robe or gown, predominantly rendered in shades of grayish-blue and purple.
Her posture is hunched, her gaze directed outward towards a large window, suggesting introspection or a lost-in-thought state. Her face is mostly in shadow, adding to the mysterious aura surrounding her. The details of her features are softened and indistinct, with the focus more on the overall silhouette and pose. The setting is dominated by an immense, arched window taking up most of the background. The window is composed of numerous sections of glass creating a lattice effect. The light streaming from outside is muted and diffused, casting a soft, cool light over the scene. The colors are predominantly cool-toned—various shades of light blue, lavender, and purple—creating a serene but somewhat melancholic atmosphere. There's a subtle contrast between the warmer, reddish-purple hues in the lower portion of the painting and the cooler blues and lavenders in the upper part where the light washes in through the window. The textures are primarily smooth, characteristic of the oil paint technique, with some thicker applications to suggest depth and form.
The artist's style appears to be impressionistic, prioritizing mood creation over hyperrealistic representation. The brushstrokes are visible, contributing to a sense of movement and emotion. The shapes are simplified, yet expressive, with emphasis on light and shadow to convey volume and form. The technique suggests an application of oil paint in layers, with some blending and some areas showing the distinct texture of each brushstroke.
The overall mood is introspective, peaceful, even slightly somber. The atmosphere is one of quiet contemplation and solitude. The story implied by the painting could be one of reflection upon past experiences or anticipatory waiting, perhaps a moment of pondering the future. The feeling is one of gentle melancholy, a sense of peace despite a hidden depth of emotion. The large window could symbolize a connection to the outside world, a longing for something beyond the immediate setting, or perhaps a transition point in the woman's life. Her posture and the cool color palette contribute to a sense of quiet contemplation and possible loneliness. There are no overt symbols such as religious or mythological imagery, and the meaning is left largely open to the viewer's interpretation. The overall theme is quiet introspection and the emotional state of being alone while in a place of potential transition.
The background’s blazing orange, textured with thick brushstrokes, suggests a harsh, desolate land under threat. Dark birds scatter across the sky, their flight adding a restless energy and hinting at instability or loss. The light behind the couple highlights their figures, emphasizing their isolation and shared burden.
Igor Shulman’s expressive style exaggerates their elongated faces and formal postures, blending caricature with raw emotion. The painting speaks to the fragile nature of power and the uneasy bond between rulers facing forces beyond their control. The embrace feels both protective and desperate—a moment of human connection amid looming chaos.
Expressionism
27.56 x 27.56 in / 70 x 70 cm
The background is a fiery, desolate landscape painted in blazing oranges and reds, textured with thick brushstrokes that suggest decay and the sunset of an era. A solitary leafless tree stands to the side, emphasizing the king’s isolation. A small white animal, possibly a lamb, walks ahead, indifferent to the king’s plight.
Shulman’s bold, expressionist style uses vivid color and visible brushwork to convey raw emotion rather than realistic detail. The painting’s mood is heavy with melancholy and resignation, reflecting on the inevitable decline of power and the loneliness that accompanies it.
Symbolically, the king represents authority and its fragility, the dog his dwindling influence or remaining loyalty, and the fiery landscape the end of a reign. This work is a poignant meditation on loss, mortality, and the impermanence of glory.
27.56 x 27.56 in / 70 x 70 cm
Beside her hangs a golden birdcage containing a small dark bird, symbolizing confinement and lost freedom. The thick, impasto brushstrokes and vibrant colors create a dynamic tension between captivity and artistic expression.
Shulman’s style blends expressionism with folk art influences, using bold colors and textured paint to evoke raw emotion. The painting captures a complex mood of melancholy mixed with resilience, reflecting the struggle between creative spirit and imposed limitations. The crown and birdcage symbolize both power and restriction, while the accordion represents the bittersweet persistence of creativity even in confinement.
The background’s bold reds and rough textures evoke chaos and upheaval, while the detailed rendering of the king’s attire and the cat’s fur adds depth and focus. Shulman’s style blends realism with cartoonish exaggeration, using thick impasto and expressive brushstrokes to create dynamic energy.
The painting explores the absurdity of power and the unexpected bonds that can form in isolation. The king’s weary demeanor and the cat’s direct gaze suggest a complex relationship, highlighting themes of loneliness, authority, and companionship in unlikely places.
Beside him, the younger king wears a bright blue robe and a similar crown, his posture formal but less assured, reflecting apprehension and the heavy burden of succession. The fiery background, rendered with thick impasto brushstrokes, suggests turmoil and conflict within their kingdom.
Shulman’s style blends contemporary realism with expressionism, using bold colors, exaggerated forms, and textured surfaces to convey emotional depth. The painting captures the solemnity and complexity of power, legacy, and the emotional toll of leadership, inviting viewers to reflect on the challenges faced by those who rule.
Navigate to Igor Shulman Archived Art Gallery
2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
We are excited to share with you that Igor Shulman is now offering a new service where he can print any artwork on canvas, regardless of size. The cost is very affordable at only $ 1000 m2. If you're interested in this service, please don't hesitate to contact him to discuss your printing needs and pricing options.
See how the Kissing Under the Bridge art was printed on canvas