Tatiana Kalyn "A Girl with a Guitar"

Born in 1969, the young Russian woman, Tatiana Kayn joined The Repin Art Academy in St. Petersburg in 1989 at the age of twenty, to then graduate in 2002; her reputation as a gifted artist was well established before this time.

The Repin Art Academy have produced some extraordinary talent, Kayn is certainly one of them.

The painting depicted above, "The Girl with a Guitar", is a fine example of Tatiana's talent, exemplifying the Academy's school of thought, that is to say, a style of Modern Expressionism with an uncanny style of Realism; in fact the Academy calls itself a school of Realism.

One reason for this, I believe, is that Russian artists were directed to paint only in one style, Neo-Classicism, under the Communist regime, beginning with the ruthless dictator, Joseph Stalin. Any diversion from Classicism would lead the artist to a work camp in Siberia. As a result of this oppression, Russian artists missed out on the ever -moving, ever- changing art world, thus when the Wall finally went down, something new in Art has emerged.


In 1989, Tatiana joined the Academy revealing her deep understanding of colour/contrast and "somehow" imbuing into her work, emotive inspiration, giving the viewer a strong sense of Realism.

In "A Girl with a Guitar", the mix of bright colours of the woman's costume and the fine shape of her hands reveals an artist with classical sesibilities.

For me, the woman's expression is one of sadness, because, perhaps, the song she is playing moves her to this emotion: a shade of deep forlorness.

There is something quite fantastic about this painting that I can't quite put my finger on.

It would be a shame if this piece was now part of a private collection, (as a lot of her painting's are.) because the work demands to be seen in the flesh.

In my humble opinion, this painting will become a classic for future generations.

A beautiful piece.