Kotygoroshko (2023)Oil painting by Anatolii Varvarov

№Varv 198
Oil artwork “Kotygoroshko” depicts a small boy standing on a rock in an open field while holding a bright red toy bat. In front of him lies a destroyed tank surrounded by scattered wreckage across the quiet landscape. The child looks toward the broken machine with calm determination, while distant trees and fields stretch toward the horizon beneath a pale sky.

The scene refers to Kotygoroshko, the legendary hero of a Ukrainian fairy tale known for courage and strength. In this composition the boy becomes a symbolic modern Kotygoroshko: a child holding only a toy bat yet standing bravely before a powerful tank. The contrast between the innocent child and the heavy military wreckage creates a strong metaphor of courage, resilience, and the spirit of a young hero facing danger.

Created with oil on canvas, the artwork emphasizes storytelling through contrast of colors and forms. Soft natural tones shape the open field, trees, and sky, while the dark tank and scattered wreckage anchor the scene with weight. The vivid red toy bat draws the viewer’s attention to the boy, turning the moment into a powerful symbol of bravery and imagination.

Materials used:

oil

Details:

• Oil painting on Canvas
• One of a kind artwork
• Size: 200 x 144.98 x 0.99cm (unframed) / 200 x 144.98cm (actual image size)
• Signed on the front
• Style: Photorealistic
• Subject: People and portraits

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