Gallery, 2017 – Archive of Oil Paintings
Explore Igor Shulman’s 2017 archive of original oil paintings. This year showcases a diverse range of subjects, including expressive portraits, dynamic compositions and thematic series, reflecting the artist’s continued exploration of human emotion and form.
2017 Archive of Original Oil Paintings
In 2017, Igor Shulman delved deeper into the complexities of human emotion, capturing moments of introspection and connection. His works from this year highlight his mastery in portraying the nuances of the human form and expression.
Shop Available 2017 Oil Paintings
View available oil paintings in the catalogue
London Walking
London Walking (2017) by Igor Shulman portrays a solitary man navigating a mid-20th-century London street, accompanied by a black crow. The man, dressed in a dark coat and hat, walks away from the viewer, holding a rolled-up newspaper in one hand and a walking stick in the other. His slightly hunched posture conveys introspection and detachment, emphasizing the painting’s central theme of urban solitude.
The crow at his feet stands out against the muted palette of greys, purples, and desaturated reds, its presence adding a subtle element of mystery. Background figures, including a man waiting at a bus stop and a woman in a light dress, are rendered softly, reinforcing the sense of a bustling city while accentuating the central figure’s isolation. A bright red double-decker bus punctuates the scene, evoking iconic London imagery and situating the moment in a specific urban context.
The background is impressionistic, with soft textures and diffused light suggesting overcast weather. Buildings loom in the misty distance, creating depth and scale without detracting from the main subjects. Shulman blends realism with impressionistic touches, using visible but subtle brushstrokes to balance detail and atmosphere. The muted colors and hazy background emphasize contemplation and introspection, inviting the viewer into the quiet rhythm of the city.
The mood is reflective and slightly melancholic, capturing a private journey amid public life. Symbolically, the crow may represent solitude or introspection, while the man’s posture and isolation highlight the contrast between the individual and the urban environment. London Walking offers a nuanced meditation on loneliness, observation, and the human experience within a bustling yet indifferent cityscape.
Untitled (Boy and His Dog)
Boy and His Dog (2017) by Igor Shulman captures a quiet, intimate moment of companionship between a young boy and his dog. The boy, seen from behind and slightly turned to the side, wears a maroon hoodie and jeans. He leans gently into the dog, wrapping his arms around it, his head resting against its back. The Labrador Retriever-type dog sits calmly, its light-gold coat soft and smooth, leaning slightly into the boy’s embrace. The figures’ posture conveys comfort, trust, and unconditional affection.
The background is a textured pale lavender, with subtle variations in tone that add depth and interest without distracting from the central figures. Soft, diffused light falls evenly across the scene, enhancing the tender atmosphere. The ground is indistinct, blending into the background, keeping focus on the emotional exchange between boy and dog.
Shulman employs a realistic approach with a hint of impressionism. The figures are rendered with anatomical precision, while the painterly background and textured brushstrokes give a subtle warmth and vitality to the piece. Impasto accents, particularly on the boy’s jacket, add tactile depth and visual interest.
The overall mood is serene and heartwarming. The embrace embodies loyalty, friendship, and emotional support, highlighting the unspoken bond between human and animal. The lavender background evokes calmness and subtle nostalgia, emphasizing the quiet intimacy of the moment. This painting is a contemplative study of affection, mutual comfort, and the profound simplicity of shared companionship.
Untitled (The Young Drummer)
The Young Drummer (2017) by Igor Shulman presents a poignant study of childhood, responsibility, and introspection. The painting centers on a young boy, around seven or eight years old, holding a small, brightly colored drum. The boy’s expression is serious, almost melancholic, his eyes cast downward, suggesting quiet reflection or the weight of expectation. He wears period-inspired attire: a pale vest over a white shirt with dark suspenders, maroon trousers, and polished dark shoes, evoking a sense of formality. His hands grip the drumsticks with subtle tension, highlighting his concentration and emotional state.
The drum itself is predominantly white with a red rim and geometric patterns, providing a striking contrast against the muted tones of the boy’s clothing and the softly rendered background. The setting is minimal, with an indistinct gray and purple backdrop that emphasizes the figure and his introspective mood. Soft, diffused light gently illuminates the boy, focusing attention on his solemn demeanor and the symbolic drum.
Shulman’s style blends realism with impressionistic touches. The boy’s features are carefully detailed, while the background and drum are treated with looser brushstrokes, creating a painterly texture that conveys atmosphere and emotion. The interplay of bright and muted colors enhances the narrative tension between outward cheerfulness and internal seriousness.
The mood is contemplative, evoking a sense of stillness and quiet introspection. Symbolically, the drum represents the burdens and expectations placed upon children, the rhythms of life, and the contrast between outward appearances and inner experience. The Young Drummer invites reflection on childhood, responsibility, and the delicate balance between innocence and maturity.
Dancing Duet
39.37 H x 39.37 W x 1.97″ x / 100 H x 100 W x 5 cm
Dancing Duet (2017) by Igor Shulman captures a moment of spirited joy and emotional release through the dynamic movement of a dancing couple. The painting presents a man and woman in mid-motion, their bodies expressing energy, exhilaration, and a sense of freedom. The woman, dressed in a simple dark knee-length dress with her hair in a 60s-inspired updo, lifts one leg high while raising her arms, her posture radiating joy and spontaneity. The man mirrors her energy, dressed in a dark suit and light blue shirt, wearing sunglasses; his raised arms and angled posture convey engagement and spirited involvement in the dance. Their faces are partly obscured, emphasizing motion over precise detail.
The background is a vivid, textured orange, providing a dramatic contrast to the darker figures and enhancing the intensity and passion of the scene. A subtle dark floor at the bottom grounds the composition, while the rest of the backdrop remains abstract, focusing attention entirely on the dancers. Shulman employs an expressive, gestural style, with visible brushstrokes that create a palpable sense of movement. The thick, dynamic application of paint adds texture and vibrancy, amplifying the energy captured in the figures’ poses.
The mood is joyous, liberating, and uninhibited. The painting celebrates movement as a metaphor for emotional freedom and shared expression. The contrasting colors, energetic brushwork, and intertwined poses convey both individual vitality and the unifying power of shared experience. Dancing Duet symbolizes the release of repressed emotions, carefree abandon, and the universal joy of human connection expressed through dance.
Untitled (Edge of the Tide)
Edge of the Tide (2017) by Igor Shulman presents a contemplative family scene set against the restless energy of the sea. The painting depicts a man, woman, and child positioned on a pebbled beach, quietly observing the turbulent waves before them. The man stands near his bicycle, dressed in a dark suit, his windblown hair and upright posture suggesting introspection and a measured contemplation of life’s uncertainties. The woman, clad in a dark coat and hood, stands with her back to the viewer, hands clasped behind her, expressing quiet solemnity. Between them, a small child rests partially obscured in a stroller, emphasizing vulnerability and the continuity of life.
The beach and crashing waves are rendered in muted grays, blues, and purples, the visible brushstrokes capturing both the rough texture of the shore and the fluidity of the sea. Diffused light enhances the atmospheric, somber mood, emphasizing reflection over narrative detail. Shulman’s use of realistic figurative forms combined with textured brushwork creates an immersive sense of place, highlighting the emotional resonance of the moment rather than precise anatomical accuracy.
The painting evokes feelings of introspection, melancholy, and quiet resilience. The sea’s power symbolizes life’s challenges and unpredictability, while the family represents enduring human connection amidst these forces. The bicycle may hint at life’s journey and the passage of time, reinforcing the painting’s contemplative narrative. Edge of the Tide speaks to the human capacity for reflection, resilience, and acceptance in the face of the unknown, inviting viewers to consider their own moments of quiet observation and emotional contemplation.
Absinthe Time
Located in the Wayfair gallery
Absinthe Time (2017) by Igor Shulman depicts a solitary, contemplative moment of introspection and quiet melancholy. The central figure is a young woman, her dark hair cascading around her pale face, eyes closed as she slumps over a dark, reflective table. Her posture conveys weariness and resignation, shoulders drooping as if carrying an invisible weight. Dressed simply in a dark sleeveless top, she appears withdrawn, absorbed in her own inner world.
Perched on the table beside her is a gray crow, realistically rendered, pecking near an ashtray overflowing with cigarette butts. Its presence evokes a sense of foreboding, hinting at solitude or emotional unease. Nearby, a glass of pale absinthe or liqueur and a pack of cigarettes reinforce themes of self-indulgence and quiet despair.
The background is muted, painted in soft, hazy beige and light brown tones that allow the figures and table to dominate the scene. The artist’s brushwork is visible, particularly in the textures of the woman’s hair and the crow’s feathers, blending realism with subtle painterly abstraction. Soft, diffuse lighting enhances the somber atmosphere, emphasizing introspection rather than narrative detail.
The mood is deeply melancholic and reflective. The painting explores themes of loneliness, emotional vulnerability, and the human tendency toward self-reflection in moments of quiet despair. The crow, cigarettes, and glass of absinthe symbolize foreboding, coping mechanisms, and fleeting solace. Absinthe Time captures a private, contemplative instant, inviting viewers to reflect on solitude, inner struggle, and the delicate balance between indulgence and emotional isolation.
Fly
Fly (2017) by Igor Shulman presents a nude male figure suspended in mid-air, capturing a moment of freedom, vulnerability, and introspection. The central subject is a muscular, tan-skinned man, depicted in a dynamic, almost acrobatic pose. His arms are extended to the sides, legs bent gracefully, and his head turned slightly away from the viewer, suggesting movement, openness, and contemplative thought. The realistic rendering of his anatomy highlights the human form while the stylized posture adds an expressive, emotional depth.
The background is a minimalist, pale lavender-blue, textured like a cloudy sky or impastoed canvas. Its cool tones contrast with the warmth of the figure’s skin, emphasizing his presence. The absence of horizon lines or additional objects focuses the viewer entirely on the human form. Soft, diffused lighting enhances the ethereal, almost dreamlike quality of the scene.
Shulman combines realism with expressionism, rendering the figure with anatomical precision while using expressive brushwork in the background. The thick application of paint adds texture and emotional intensity, reinforcing the sense of floating and transcendence.
The mood is contemplative, meditative, and subtly intense. The figure embodies both freedom and vulnerability, evoking a sense of weightlessness, introspection, and spiritual release. The painting’s symbolism touches on the human spirit, the fragility of the body, and the search for transcendence. Fly invites viewers to reflect on self-discovery, emotional liberation, and the profound beauty of the human form in motion.
Some archived artworks may be available as prints upon request. Learn more.