Original artwork description:

Shadows of the Ancestors by Igor Galan is a contemplative work rooted in Eastern European folklore and spiritual symbolism. Painted in 1994, this monumental oil on canvas (150 x 200 cm) marks an early yet fully mature point in the artist’s journey. The painting presents a timeless narrative of life, death, and ancestral connection – rendered with subtle surrealism and deep reverence.

The sky is painted in tones of lapis and indigo, filled with abstract sacred symbols – crosses, spirals, cosmic glyphs – while an ethereal group of elongated, robed figures hovers above. Their forms seem weightless, their expressions closed in serene slumber or introspection. Below, a lone creature – innocent and grounded – stands in silent communion with this spectral descent.

The Klimt influence is seen in the rich golds, flattened perspective, and decorative spiritual language, yet the voice is uniquely Galan’s – rooted in the Ukrainian visual tradition, but pushing beyond it into something archetypal and universal. The presence of the scythe, the use of ancient symbols, and the contemplative mood transform this painting into a meditation on death as a continuation rather than an end.

This is a rare work that merges historical and spiritual depth with painterly beauty. Ideal for collectors of narrative figurative painting, post-Soviet expression, or works that delve into the metaphysical.

Materials used:

Oil

Tags: