Original artwork description:

The Bride by Igor Galan is a powerful allegorical painting that addresses the human toll of war – specifically the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Created in 2023, this 190 x 130 cm oil on canvas depicts a symbolic encounter between life and death, between a Ukrainian soldier and the quiet, eternal force that takes him away.

At the heart of the painting stands a surreal, nude female figure – a personification of Death, stylized as a bride. She holds a massive scythe, its arc spanning the canvas like a shadow over destiny. Her expression is neither cruel nor kind – it is ritualistic, inevitable. In front of her, a man in a military-blue shirt, with a Ukrainian flag patch on his sleeve, stands upright with eyes closed, as her hand silences him.

The emotion is palpable. The bride’s gesture is one of transformation, not aggression. The work channels both grief and reverence. It honors the fallen not as victims, but as noble guardians who faced fate unflinching.

Galan’s use of color and light creates a contrast between flesh and cloth, humanity and symbolism. This painting is an ode to courage, mourning, and the price of freedom – an evocative and politically urgent artwork.

Materials used:

Oil

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