Rusalka, Free floating in Ukrainian waters 28-02, 2022

Corné Akkers  

A New Color Scheme. This oil painting is titled "Rusalka" in honor of the latest developments in Ukraine. It is an elaboration of my pastel drawing titled "Free Floating Blue Wave Nude 10-02-21," which was based on a previous graphite pencil drawing titled "Roundism 19-07-16." It is a rare example where I have explored the same motif in three different mediums that I have mastered. So, why this specific painting at this moment? After completing my last painting, "Risque 22-02-22," I felt the need for something new. I wanted to move away from the specific color scheme of reds, greens, and yellows that I had been working with. It could be that I was also seeking to overcome some challenges related to color saturation. Therefore, I decided to avoid using reds this time and explore a new color scheme, something cooler and more mysterious.

All Hell Broke Loose. Coincidentally, around the same time, the Russian-Ukrainian war began. Interestingly, the color blue had been on my mind for weeks. It's fascinating how our subconscious works. The blue and yellow in the pastel drawing may have reminded me of the Ukrainian flag in some way. At first glance, the theme of this painting may not seem directly related to the ongoing war started by Russia. However, it reminded me of Slavic folklore tales filled with goddesses, nymphs, and nixes. Particularly, there was one tale that came to mind: Rusalka. This Ukrainian tale tells the story of a young woman who drowned in a river or lake and returned as a haunting presence. She is not necessarily malevolent, but it is advised to be cautious when entering the water, especially for young Russian soldiers.

How Blue Can You Get? In this painting, I used variations of cooler (reddish) and warmer (greenish) tones of blue to create more vibrancy. The complementary reds and greens in the skin tones contribute to this effect. It is also possible to achieve this complementary effect within a single main color, creating a kind of double impact. The presence of yellow in the waves adjacent to the blue ones reminded me of the Ukrainian flag, hence the title Rusalka. To emphasize this, I incorporated slightly more yellow than originally intended.

Reminiscing. All of these elements take me back to the 1990s when I was studying International Law in Leiden. After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, I was highly motivated to contribute to a new world order, one in which the rule of law would prevail, and dictatorships would disappear. Who could have foreseen another system of oppression emerging after the downfall of communism? What does it take for humanity to realize that the rule of free choice in a democratic society is the only way forward? Nowadays, I am a middle-aged artist, no longer a lawyer. My contributions are purely artistic. They say that an image can sometimes convey more than a thousand words. Let us hope that this painting contributes to peace. Perhaps Putin can be enticed into Rusalka's realm. I'll make him an offer: He can have this painting for free if he ends this war.

Oil on linen. Cubism. This piece comes with an official certificate of authenticity signed by the artist. Ready to Hang: Yes. Signature Location: Lower Right.