Katerina
Oil on canvas
25x30cm
"My husband was so beautiful when he was young, not like now - old, fat and shabby"
Katerina
(helps her son to tend a newly established, mini supermarket and works at the collective farm)
"I have never been to any exiting places like London, unlike you. I have been to Chernigiv (Ukraine), Moscow, Kiev, Sochi, a lot around Soviet Union, Russia and Ukraine. That was during the Soviet times. Now it is too difficult to do that and I am too old, as well as all of my energy is taken up by running the household.
We got a new, young cow. It gives up to 27 litres of milk a day! And what a good milk it is !! Our son's in-law sold it to us - they got too week to look after it now. They were journalists in a local region, even got a distinction for their good work, but now they are too old and can't keep up with the housework.
My son, you know, married second time. He has got a son in Moscow from a previous marriage. He went to serve in the army there and got married. When he got back after his service, she didn't want to see him. He suffered so much. Then he returned here - he went around the village, asked around and got Olga's and her parent's agreement to marry. But the other girl said she wanted him back and she loves him but he said, 'you mistreated me once you will mistreat me again'.
My husband was so beautiful when he was young, not like now - old, fat and shabby. All the girls were after him. He really treats me well, but we had some rough times. He went off with some girl after ten years of our marriage. But I put him in his place, since then its all been good - except he got knocked down by a bike and now he cant hear too well.
(comment from the woman sitting next to the modelling one)
- Bullshit! I once saw you calling out to him several times and it's only after you yield 'Ivan you old git! come here' that he taken an ear plug out of his ear and asked what you wanted.
(laughter…)
"
Note: Modelling would usually attract a lot of attention from fellow villagers and lots of sharp, humorous, often rude comments towards the sitter, and lots of laughter.