The artwork titled “Ukrainian Girl by a Fence” was created by artist Ilya Repin in 1876. It is an oil on canvas portrait that adheres to the Realism art movement. Currently, this piece is housed in the Belarusian National Museum of Fine Arts located in Minsk, Belarus.
The artwork depicts a young Ukrainian girl standing in front of a wooden fence. She is dressed in traditional Ukrainian attire, which includes a white blouse with embroidered details and a vibrantly-colored skirt. Adorning her head is a headscarf that features intricate patterns and decorations, a typical accessory in such folk costumes. Her attire is further embellished with an array of beaded necklaces that lay abundantly across her chest, suggesting a cultural significance or a display of regional costume jewelry.
The girl’s posture is noticeably relaxed yet confident; she stands with her arms folded across her waist, gazing directly at the viewer with a calm and introspective expression. The rural background is somewhat indistinct, emphasizing the girl as the principal subject of the portrait. Through the artwork, Repin succeeds in capturing not only the physical likeness of the subject but also a glimpse into her inner character, which is in line with the goals of the Realist movement that sought to depict subjects truthfully, without idealization. The subdued lighting and earthy tones contribute to the overall solemn and contemplative atmosphere of the painting, enhancing its emotional depth.
