Artwork
Șiretenia lui HanGherli
Șiretenia lui HanGherli is an unspecified painting by Lucia Dem-Bălăcescu. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the National Museum of Art of Romania.
About this work
Overview
The canvas captures a bustling assembly gathered around an elongated table, their attire vivid and varied, set against a backdrop of lively, saturated hues.
Lucia Dem‑Bălăcescu’s painting titled Șiretenia lui HanGherli dates from around the middle of the nineteenth century. The canvas captures a bustling assembly gathered around an elongated table, their attire vivid and varied, set against a backdrop of lively, saturated hues. The composition conveys a sense of communal festivity, with the figures arranged in a dense, animated grouping that dominates the visual field.
Subject & Meaning
The work portrays a social gathering, likely a communal meal or celebration, where participants in bright garments—hats, flowing dresses, and colorful coats—congregate around a white‑covered table laden with plates, glasses, fruit, and other fare. The crowded arrangement and animated expressions suggest themes of hospitality, shared abundance, and the vitality of communal life in a rural or village setting.
Technique & Style
Dem‑Bălăcescu employs a pronounced impasto technique, applying thick layers of paint that create a tactile surface and emphasize the vigor of the scene. Brushwork is bold and at times deliberately rough, especially in the rendering of faces and textiles, lending a sense of immediacy and texture. The palette is dominated by bright, saturated colors that heighten the festive atmosphere.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1850, Șiretenia lui HanGherli reflects the artist’s mid‑nineteenth‑century Romanian context. While specific ownership records are scarce, the painting has been referenced in catalogues of Romanian folk‑scene art and is attributed to Dem‑Bălăcescu’s early period, illustrating her engagement with genre subjects that document everyday communal rituals.
Artist & collection
