Artwork
Iașii vechi cu pod nou
Iașii vechi cu pod nou is an unspecified painting by Agafiței Costache. It dates from 1955 and is held in the collection of the Moldova National Museum Complex.
About this work
Overview
Iașii vechi cu pod nou, attributed to Agafiței Costache and dated to around 1955, depicts a riverside town bisected by a newly constructed bridge. The composition balances the historic architecture—towers and low‑lying rooftops rendered in subdued tones—with the modern engineering of the bridge, suggesting a moment of transition within the settlement.
Subject & Meaning
The scene presents a quiet urban landscape where the river serves as a central axis. A solitary figure, equipped with a walking pole, traverses the riverbank, emphasizing the everyday rhythm of life amid change. The juxtaposition of aged structures and the fresh bridge hints at the coexistence of tradition and progress in mid‑twentieth‑century Romanian towns.
Technique & Style
Costache employs a rapid, gestural brushwork that alternates between thick, impasto‑like applications and thinner, more translucent strokes. This varied handling of paint creates a sketch‑like surface texture, lending the work a sense of immediacy. The softened sky and muted palette further reinforce a contemplative atmosphere while the visible strokes retain a tactile quality.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1955, the painting belongs to the post‑war period when Romanian artists often documented local environments undergoing modernization. While specific ownership records are limited, the work has been referenced in regional exhibitions focusing on mid‑century landscape painting, underscoring its relevance to the visual record of urban development during that era.
Artist & collection
Artist
Agafiței Costache made prints and paintings of everyday Romanian life in the mid-20th century.
