9. Romanian Peasant Woman [1913]

Man and the diversity of his existence represented the root of most oil paintings by artist Octav Băncilă. Whether he painted compositions inspired by German Expressionism, social topics, portraits, or gender scenes, Băncilă succeeds in conveying an authentic feeling of empathy. The peasant covered a primordial role in the artistic imagery, as he is depicted in various situations, or captured while carrying out typical agricultural or household activities. In this work, the main character is captured while working, the tight frame around the woman who seems to be taking a break from her work, imposes her to the eyes of the observer. Although she holds a sickle witnessing the work she carries out, her loving arms simultaneously carry a blonde child, emphasizing a characteristic of unconditional motherly love and care. The monumental attitude, typical for peasants' portraits, is emphasized by the gaze that is directed outside the painting. We notice that the face's physiognomy preserves the method of representation acquired in Munich, according to which the facial features are the key to decipher the inner life. The lack of details in the landscapes single out the represented characters. (A.A.)

References

BENEDICT, Cristian, "Octav Băncilă", Meridiane Publishing House, Bucharest, 1961 DREPTU, Ruxandra, "Octav Băncilă", Meridiane Publishing House, Bucharest, 1997

Dimensions

width 65 cm, height 85 cm, custom 85 × 65 cm

Description

oil on canvas, signed and dated bottom right, with brown, "Octav Băncilă, 1913"

Dating

1913

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