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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Dancer by the Window (2006) – Oil on Canvas, Impressionistic Style in details
This painting Dancer by the Window shows a pensive young woman sitting by a large, arched window, conveying a theme of contemplation and solitude.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.
Two Queens (2006) – Oil on Canvas in details
This painting Two Queens shows two stylized queens in a fiery landscape, exploring themes of succession and perhaps a power struggle. The painting features two female figures, both resembling queens with exaggerated features.
The taller queen, on the left, has dark curly hair, a long, pale face with prominent cheekbones and a somewhat somber expression. She wears a long, teal gown, a large, white ruffled collar reminiscent of Elizabethan fashion, and a small golden crown. Her posture is somewhat stiff and formal, her hands gently holding what could be interpreted as a small, white animal or a piece of fabric.
The second queen, positioned to the right, has long, blonde hair, a similarly elongated face, but a more melancholic demeanor. She's dressed in a light pink gown, also with a white collar, and a smaller crown. Her posture mirrors the first queen's stiffness but has more of a resigned, wistful quality. The background is a dramatic, fiery landscape dominated by intense reds and oranges.
The paint application is quite textured and expressive, enhancing the overall feeling of heat and passion. Silhouetted dark trees rise from the ground, adding elements of mystery and deepening the sense of an almost apocalyptic or dreamlike setting. The light seems diffused, creating a hazy glow around the figures, emphasizing their otherworldly quality.
The textures in the background are rough and almost scratchy, contrasting with the smoother rendering of the figures' garments.
Two Queens (2006) – In interiors in details
The overall atmosphere is one of mystery and foreboding, hinting at a story or narrative that’s left for the viewer to interpret. The painting explores themes of power, transition, and possibly rivalry or succession.
The two queens, similar in appearance yet distinct in dress and even personality, could represent different aspects of the same authority, maybe a mother and daughter, or even different facets of the same personality. The fiery backdrop may symbolize conflict, change, or the ephemeral nature of power.
The crown symbolizes royalty and stature, and the stiff postures suggest the weight of responsibility or the constraints of social station.
The painting invites viewers to ponder the relationship between the two figures and the meaning of their shared, unsettling environment.
Close-up detail of Untitled (Mother and Daughter Queens), at the Igor’s studioTwo Queens (2006) – Detail View in detailsAt Igor Shulman Studio. Behind the scenes.
Igor employs a style that blends elements of surrealism and expressionism. The figures are stylized, almost caricature-like in their proportions and features, adding a touch of whimsy. The expressive brushstrokes in the background and bolder, more defined lines outlining the figures show a clear, strong use of contrasting techniques to emphasize the characters and the setting.
The impasto style, with thick layers of paint visible on the canvas, provides an appealing tactile dimension to the work. The overall effect is one of both theatrical drama and subtle emotional intensity.
The artwork exudes a mood of quiet tension and unspoken drama. The intense red background suggests passion, conflict, or perhaps even danger. The queens' expressions—the first a stoic sadness, the second a pensive melancholy—create a sense of anticipation or uncertainty.
The Accursed Kings Series – Untitled (King and Queen Embrace) in details
This painting shows a king and queen locked in a tense embrace against a fiery orange backdrop scattered with a flock of fleeing birds. The king, with a stern yet weary expression, wears a golden crown and a light blue robe. His hands, adorned with rings, hold the queen close, blending affection with a subtle grip of control. The queen, dressed in a pink gown with a large white ruffled collar, mirrors his stiffness but reveals a quiet vulnerability.
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 Accursed Kings Series – Untitled (Forlorn King with Dog) in details
This expressive oil painting from Igor Shulman’s Accursed Kings Series portrays a forlorn king, stripped of his power and dignity, dragging a small, insignificant dog behind him. The king, an elderly man cloaked in a crimson robe with a fur-lined cape and a precarious golden crown, is hunched and weary, embodying defeat and sorrow. His downcast posture and shadowed face evoke profound disillusionment.
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
The Accursed Kings Series – Untitled (Accordion Player with Caged Bird) in details
This expressive oil painting from Igor Shulman’s Accursed Kings Series features a regal woman crowned atop her dark hair, playing an accordion with quiet contemplation. Her elongated, melancholic face and dark teal gown with a large white ruffled collar contrast vividly against a fiery orange background.
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 Accursed Kings Series – Untitled (King with Purple Cat) in details
This expressive oil painting from Igor Shulman’s Accursed Kings Series portrays a regal king seated on a richly detailed dark throne, holding a large purple cat crowned atop its head. The king’s elongated face, serious expression, and slightly askew golden crown contrast with the vibrant colors of his mustard-yellow robe and the fiery red, textured background.
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.
The Accursed Kings Series – Untitled (Two Kings on Thrones) in details
This expressive oil painting from Igor Shulman’s Accursed Kings Series portrays two kings seated on richly detailed green thrones, set against a dramatic fiery red and orange backdrop. The older king, dressed in a vibrant pink robe adorned with gold stars and a white fur collar, holds a metallic orb and wears a gold crown. His elongated face carries a stern, fatigued expression, embodying authority weighed down by responsibility.
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.
Printing any artwork on canvas!
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