The works of critically acclaimed painter and printmaker Jacques Hnizdovsky (1915-1985) were on view at The Ukrainian Museum in New York City from June 11 to November 12, 2006. Titled Jacques Hnizdovsky...In Color and in Black & White, the exhibition showcased a body of work by the artist spanning a nearly fifty-year career that had its origins in Ukraine and culminated in the United States.
The canvases and prints in the exhibition ranged from the early works produced prior to Hnizdovsky's arrival in the U.S., such as Displaced Persons (oil, 1948), to multiple examples of his superb woodcuts.
The canvases and prints in the exhibition ranged from the early works produced prior to Hnizdovsky's arrival in the U.S., such as Displaced Persons (oil, 1948), to multiple examples of his superb woodcuts.
Included among the latter were the cherished rams, sheep, and depictions of still-life objects that often showed traces of Hnizdovsky's subtle sense of humor.
This show provided a rare glimpse into Hnizdovsky's mid-career, with a sampling of infrequently and never-before-exhibited works. The pieces were emblematic of a period that was most trying for the artist, both financially and spiritually, but that was also among his most creative. In Crucifixion (oil, 1955), traces of vivid red contrasting with the dark backdrop conveys a sense of anguish and foreboding.
This show provided a rare glimpse into Hnizdovsky's mid-career, with a sampling of infrequently and never-before-exhibited works. The pieces were emblematic of a period that was most trying for the artist, both financially and spiritually, but that was also among his most creative. In Crucifixion (oil, 1955), traces of vivid red contrasting with the dark backdrop conveys a sense of anguish and foreboding.
Bondage (oil, 1961) echoes the somber mood, while the shadow in Darkness (oil, 1961) is juxtaposed against a ray of light, perhaps the portent of a brighter future. The colors and style in these early canvases reflect the influence of artists such as Durer, Bruegel the Elder, and El Greco and hint at the artist's roots in his native Borshchiv region of Ukraine, where traditional embroidery is characterized by deep, rich reds and burgundies framed in a lush, velvety black.
Supplementing the collection of paintings and prints was a display of original Hnizdovsky ex libris designs,
Supplementing the collection of paintings and prints was a display of original Hnizdovsky ex libris designs,
