The Things We Carry Home (2026) Original Acrylic Painting by Nataliya Bagatskaya

This painting began with a personal memory from the first months of the full-scale war in Ukraine. Looking back, I realized that what stayed with me most strongly was not only the uncertainty of those days, but the simple things that suddenly became precious: bringing home a loaf of bread, coffee, and food for my cat.

The woman in the painting stands quietly before the viewer, holding the ordinary necessities of everyday life. Yet each object carries a deeper meaning. Bread represents security and nourishment; coffee preserves the comforting ritual of normal life; food for the cat becomes a symbol of care and responsibility for another living being. The black cat is both companion and silent witness, while the cotton branches introduce a feeling of fragility, tenderness, and hope.

The clock stopped at midnight marks a moment between what has already happened and what may come next. It is a threshold between uncertainty and possibility. The woman's calm expression suggests that resilience does not always look heroic. Sometimes it is simply the decision to keep going, to care for someone, to return home, and to preserve a small sense of normality.

The Ukrainian silhouette and viburnum branch connect the intimate domestic scene with a larger idea of home, memory, and belonging. However, the painting is deliberately not limited to one historical event. Its subject is universal: the things we choose to protect when life becomes uncertain.

I wanted the viewer to recognize something personal in this scene. Perhaps it is a familiar household ritual, someone they care for, a place they call home, or the quiet hope of tomorrow. The painting reveals its meaning gradually, allowing ordinary objects to become symbols of love, responsibility, resilience, and the human need to feel safe.

Dutch acrylic paints Amsterdam tm and Italian canvas by Unico were used. The finish is satin varnish, and the edges are painted in the background color. This painting is created on a pre-stretched canvas on a wooden frame. It is carefully packed in a cardboard box with layers of bubble wrap. 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: 80 x 120 x 1.8cm (unframed)
• Signed certificate of authenticity
• Style: Photorealistic
• Subject: Animals and birds