Epska pljačka u Parizu dospjela je u sve svjetske vijesti. Međutim, takve stvari se ne događaju samo u filmovima i češće su nego što bismo željeli. Jeste li znali da su iz Louvrea nestala i djela ukrajinske umjetnosti?

Godine 1957. s izložbe u Ljetnoj galeriji Louvrea nestala su dva rada ukrajinske umjetnice Kateryne Bilokur. Do danas nije poznato jesu li ukradeni ili prodani bez znanja autorice.

O umjetnici

Kateryna Bilokur je istaknuta ukrajinska umjetnica u stilu naivne umjetnosti i narodnog dekorativnog slikarstva. Njezini su radovi izlagani u mnogim gradovima diljem svijeta. Pablo Picasso divio se njezinu talentu i uspoređivao njezin rad s djelima Séraphine Louis.

Životni i umjetnički put Kateryne Bilokur nije bio lak. Rođena je u bogatoj obitelji početkom 20. stoljeća u regiji Poltava. Od rane je dobi pokazivala interes za vizualnu umjetnost. Međutim, njezini su roditelji slikanje smatrali uzaludnim gubitkom vremena. Zabrinjavalo ih je što njihova kći ljenčari, ne radi kućanske poslove i neće dobiti bračnu ponudu.

Unatoč zabranama, Kateryna je nastavila slikati. Govorila je da ju njezine slike doslovno proganjaju. Učila je sama, a boje i kistove izrađivala je od improviziranih materijala.

Priznanje je stiglo prilično kasno. Kateryna Bilokur nije imala službeno, pa čak ni školsko obrazovanje. No, to je nije spriječilo da kasnije osvoji nagrade i sudjeluje na brojnim izložbama, uključujući i onu u pariškom Louvreu.

Što je naivna umjetnost

Naivna umjetnost je pravac primitivizma koji uključuje amaterska djela u slikarstvu, grafici, kiparstvu te vizualna djela umjetnika samouka.

Među poznatim predstavnicima naivne umjetnosti su Henri Rousseau (Francuska), Baka Moses (SAD), Marija Prymačenko (Ukrajina) i drugi.

Kateryna Bilokur slikala je uljanim bojama na platnu, preferirajući cvijeće i pejzaže. Njezine su kompozicije višeslojne i složene, često slikane na plavoj ili svijetloplavoj pozadini.

The Louvre: The Mysterious Disappearance of Ukrainian Paintings

The epic heist in Paris made headlines around the world. However, such things happen not only in movies, and more often than one would like. Did you know that works of Ukrainian art have also disappeared from the Louvre?

In 1957, two works by the Ukrainian artist Kateryna Bilokur disappeared from an exhibition in the Louvre’s Summer Gallery. To this day, it is unknown whether they were stolen or sold without the author’s knowledge.

About the Artist

Kateryna Bilokur is an outstanding Ukrainian artist in the style of Naïve Art and folk decorative painting. Her works have been exhibited in many cities around the world. Pablo Picasso admired her talent and compared her work to that of Séraphine Louis.

Kateryna Bilokur’s life and creative path were not easy. She was born into a wealthy family at the beginning of the 20th century in the Poltava region. From an early age, she showed an interest in visual arts. However, her parents considered painting a foolish waste of time. They were concerned that their daughter was idling, neglecting housework, and wouldn’t receive a marriage proposal.

Despite the prohibitions, Kateryna continued to paint. She said her paintings literally haunted her. She taught herself and made her own paints and brushes from improvised materials.

Recognition came quite late. Kateryna Bilokur did not have an official education, not even a school education. However, this did not prevent her from later receiving awards and participating in numerous exhibitions, including the one at the Paris Louvre.

What is Naïve Art?

Naïve Art is a direction of primitivism that includes self-taught works in painting, graphics, sculpture, and visual works by self-taught artists.

Among the famous representatives of Naïve Art are Henri Rousseau (France), Grandma Moses (USA), Maria Prymachenko (Ukraine), and others.

Kateryna Bilokur painted with oil paints on canvas, favoring flowers and landscapes. Her compositions are multifaceted and complex, often painted against a blue or light blue background.