The Night Shift (2026) Original Acrylic Painting by Nataliya Bagatskaya

Sometimes the best way to save electricity is simply to sit in the dark and enjoy it.
A young woman has settled on a windowsill beside her black cat. She is dressed casually, her legs dangling above the dark interior, looking towards the viewer with an expression that suggests she has made peace with the situation. There is no lamp illuminating the room, no bright screen demanding attention. Outside, the night is just as dark. The cat, however, seems to have discovered something far more interesting than the darkness itself.
The idea for this painting came from everyday life in Ukraine, where electricity can be available for only a few hours a day. When every charge stored in a portable power station matters, sometimes the most sensible decision is not to switch on another light. One simply sits, waits, and discovers that doing absolutely nothing can be surprisingly pleasant. Meanwhile, the cat continues its own investigation of the night, apparently seeing things its human companion cannot.
The contrast between their gazes gives the composition its quiet humour. The girl seems entirely content with the absence of illumination, while the cat remains alert and curious. A slender crescent moon hangs beyond the window, and the pale curtain stands out against the deep blues and blacks of the room. Her relaxed posture and familiar sneakers add to the impression of an unplanned, ordinary evening.
Although rooted in a particular reality, the painting is not intended as a dramatic account of hardship. Instead, it finds something unexpectedly personal and amusing in the small adjustments people make to everyday life. It is about the peculiar comfort of doing without, the different ways we experience the same surroundings, and the reassuring presence of an animal that always seems to have its own explanation for things.

Dutch acrylic paints Amsterdam tm and Italian canvas by Unico were used. The finish is satin varnish. The artwork is signed and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

Materials used:

acrylic paint

Details:

• Acrylic painting on Canvas
• One of a kind artwork
• Size: 65 x 95 x 1.8cm (unframed)
• Signed certificate of authenticity
• Style: Photorealistic
• Subject: People and portraits