Still life with dry flowers Yuri Pryadko (г.р.1980)

The composition presents a still life arrangement centered around a vase containing dried flower stems. The scene is bathed in a muted, autumnal light emanating from a window positioned behind the floral display. A collection of what appear to be dried seed pods or fruit rests on a windowsill, mirroring the color palette and textural qualities of the flowers.
The artist’s brushwork is notably loose and expressive; visible strokes contribute to a sense of immediacy and tactile quality. The application of paint appears thick in places, particularly on the window frame and within the shadows, creating depth and emphasizing the materiality of the objects depicted. Color is employed primarily within a range of ochres, browns, yellows, and muted grays, reinforcing the theme of decay and transience.
The arrangement evokes a melancholic atmosphere. The dried flowers, stripped of their vibrancy, suggest themes of loss, memory, and the passage of time. They are not presented as symbols of beauty or vitality but rather as reminders of what once was. The seed pods on the windowsill further amplify this sense of dormancy and potential unrealized.
The window itself acts as a compositional device, framing the scene and creating a visual link between the interior space and an unseen exterior world. Its blurred depiction suggests a focus on introspection rather than outward observation. The light filtering through it is not bright or cheerful but diffused and subdued, contributing to the overall somber mood.
The painting’s subtexts extend beyond simple representation; it seems to explore the beauty found in impermanence and the quiet dignity of decline. It invites contemplation on the cyclical nature of life and the acceptance of inevitable change.