Figure of an Angel

The angel is the work of a folk master, executed in a naive manner where the sacred image combines with the spontaneity of the folk worldview. The full-length figure is depicted in a generalised way, without striving for anatomical fidelity. It is precisely this simplicity that lends the image a special expressiveness and sincerity. The angel appears as a messenger from heaven, yet his appearance is devoid of detached grandeur. The expressive, rounded face radiates calmness, which is encoded in every detail: clear, eloquent eyes with a detached gaze, a small turned-up nose, and plump cheeks. The angel's expression is full of inner concentration and benevolence. In the interpretation of gestures, face and pose, one can feel the master's desire to make the sacred as close and understandable to ordinary people as possible. The compositional solution of the sculpture is distinguished by a sculptural silhouette and the absence of complex spatial perspective. Colour in the work is used not only for the fidelity of the image's reproduction, but also as a means of symbolic and emotional characterisation of the image. The local blue colour of the drapery covering the angel's naked body emphasises the decorative quality of the work, while simple lines provide rhythmic integrity. The naive manner of the work's execution is not evidence of a lack of artistic skill; on the contrary, it represents a natural system of image-making shaped by the traditions of folk art. For a folk master, the important thing is not the exact reproduction of a human figure, but the conveyance of the concept of a heavenly messenger – bright, kind and close to human beings.

Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery