Angel with Raised Arms

Carved from a single block of wood in a naive manner characteristic of folk masters, the full-length figure of an angel features small wings behind his back and arms raised upwards. The composition is built upon an accentuated movement, creating an impression of light flight and spontaneous joy. The smooth lines of the rounded contour outline the sculpture, which possesses distinctly stylised anatomical forms.
The round oval of the face, with plump cheeks and a small double chin, is rendered with soft, flowing lines. The image is given a sweet appearance by wide-open, almond-shaped eyes beneath clearly defined arches of black eyebrows, a turned-up nose, and lips closed in a smile, which stand out as a bright red accent amidst the pastel palette. These features form a benevolent, cheerful image.
The master paid special attention to the plasticity of the hands, the gesture of which creates a unique diagonal in the composition, while the open palms enhance the sense of movement. The figure of the angel conveys not a static image, but a momentary motion, as if he has frozen for a single instant. In the colour scheme, an important role is played by the red patch of drapery on the hips, which contrasts with the light skin tone.
The figure creates an impression of childish spontaneity, joy and freedom of movement. A dreamy image of the angel, embodied in the likeness of a young child, is captured in the gentle facial expression. The sculptural representation of the angel combines the realistic features of a human figure with stylisation. The primary artistic medium of the work is movement, while its core emotional content is the light-heartedness and cheerfulness of a child's image.

Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery