This original work, «Shine», was created by contemporary Russian artist Ivanka Agueli and is available for purchase online.

Ivanka Agueli’s painting titled “Shine” is a captivating example of how an artist can use contrast and minimalist forms to create a deep, atmospheric landscape. The title intrigues, promising a play of light, and the canvas fully delivers on this expectation, though presented in a restrained, almost melancholic manner.

The composition of the painting is built on a strong contrast between dark silhouettes and a bright, mysterious sky. In the foreground, a wide, deep body of water dominates, rendered in a rich, almost ink-blue color. These brushstrokes are thick and dense, absorbing light and serving as the foundation for the entire landscape. The water appears cold and still, reflecting the depth of twilight.

The main focus is drawn to the dark silhouettes of trees in the middle ground. They are depicted almost graphically, with large, confident strokes. Particularly notable is the spruce on the right — its outline is clearly defined against the sky. These dark green and brown masses of earth and vegetation create a heavy, earthy barrier between the water and the sky. Their silhouetted form indicates that the artist focuses not on the details of the foliage, but on the overall shape and power of nature.

It is the sky that gave the painting its name, «Shine». It occupies a significant portion of the upper space and is rendered in subdued yet warm tones — a blend of pale gray, ochre, and a barely perceptible yellow. This light, breaking through or reflecting off the clouds, is the source of the very «shine». It is not dazzling but rather a soft, diffused glow that gives the scene a sense of mystery. The clouds appear voluminous, like soft folds of fabric casting gentle, indirect light onto the landscape.

In the distance, beyond the dark forest, tiny light patches can be seen — possibly a far shore or fields breaking through the dense shadow. These light spots, like the sky itself, represent the «shine» that the artist skillfully placed to give the viewer’s eye a rest from the dominant dark masses.

Ivanka Agueli’s style in «Shine» leans toward a post-impressionist manner with elements of pointillism and simplified forms characteristic of landscape modernism. She masterfully uses the canvas surface, reducing natural forms to their basic geometric outlines, which enhances the emotional impact.

«Shine» is a mood landscape. It speaks not of a sunny day but of a moment of transition — whether dawn, when darkness has not yet surrendered, or twilight, when light recedes but leaves behind a promise. The painting evokes a feeling of silence, a touch of melancholy, but at the same time hope contained in this subtle yet persistent shine on the horizon. This work makes the viewer pause and gaze into the play of light that is always present, even when it seems the world has plunged into darkness.

This painting can be hung on the wall in your apartment, house, office, restaurant, or hotel, and it will become a beautiful decoration for your interior. You can buy the «Shine» painting online, sized 39 x 45 cm, with secure delivery to the address you specify.

Select and buy artwork online on Baranow Art Gallery