Student Artwork Guide

Name Class Date

Oleh Denysenko, Hero (2014). Reproduced for reference; rights reserved by the rights holder. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist: Oleh Denysenko wikioo.org/en/artists/oleh-denysenko/
Artist’s dates: 1961 –
Painted: 2014

Copyright This work is treated as still under copyright. Oleh Denysenko was born in 1961 and has no recorded death date; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death. The image is shown here for classroom reference; rights remain with the rights holder.

Hero — Oleh Denysenko

When was this painted?

1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span, counting 0 from birth.

Painted when the artist was 53. 12 of the 15 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

▲ this work, 2014 every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 2002 Main working years: 2002–2012 Late works: from 2012

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

Compare with

Head, 2008 wikioo.org/en/art/oleh-denysenko-head-D3DERE-en/
Astrolabe, 2012 wikioo.org/en/art/oleh-denysenko-astrolabe-D3DEUH-en/
Adam and Eve, 2012 wikioo.org/en/art/oleh-denysenko-adam-and-eve-D3DESV-en/

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: wikioo.org/en/art/similar/oleh-denysenko-hero-D3DEVL-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

Main colour

Espresso #413d35

Catalogued palette

#413D35
#AD904F
#706D5A
#D1C698

These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

Main colour name: Espresso
Intensity: Balanced How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
Contrast: Balanced How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
Harmony: Strong Color Unity How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
Brightness: Balanced How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
Saturation: Subtle Color How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

Where in the world is this painting looked at?

under 1%
1–3%
3–8%
8–20%
20% and over

This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Oleh Denysenko over the last twelve months — 1 countries in all. Where these figures come from

The ten leading countries

1 China 100.0%

Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

The 6 most looked-at works by Oleh Denysenko

1 Astrolabe, 2012 33.3%
2 Adam and Eve, 2012 16.7%
3 Head, 2008 16.7%
4 Pompeii, 2007 16.7%
5 Fish, 2007 16.7%
— Hero, 2014 this painting 0.0%

Together these works take 100.0% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 15 works by this artist, of which 5 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month

Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

Artist

Oleh Denysenko

Born in Lviv, Ukraine

Oleh Denysenko: A Visionary of Intaglio and Digital Alchemy

Oleh Denysenko, born in Lviv, Ukraine in 1961, stands as a singular figure within contemporary Ukrainian art. His artistic journey began with formal training at the Ukrainian Academy of Printing, grounding him in the traditions of printmaking while simultaneously propelling him toward innovative explorations of mixed media.

Early Influences: Denysenko’s formative years were steeped in Ukrainian folklore and mythology, shaping his fascination with narratives rooted in history and imbued with symbolic depth.

Technical Mastery: He honed his craft through meticulous etching techniques, achieving unparalleled precision and capturing subtle tonal variations—a hallmark of the Northern Renaissance masters he admires.

The Birth of Antiqvitas Nova: Recognizing limitations within conventional printmaking, Denysenko pioneered “Antiqvitas Nova,” a groundbreaking artistic approach that seamlessly blends intaglio printing with digital manipulation. This technique allows for breathtaking detail and textural complexity unattainable through traditional methods.

His oeuvre is characterized by fantastical imagery interwoven with historical references—Columbus’s voyage juxtaposed against intricate mechanical symbolism, figures soaring amidst ethereal landscapes reminiscent of medieval illuminated manuscripts.

Notable Artwork Explorations

Flying Pilgrim (1997): This evocative painting depicts celestial beings traversing the heavens, utilizing vibrant colors and delicate brushstrokes to convey a sense of spiritual transcendence.

Eternal Flight (2008): A haunting engraving delves into themes of exploration and remembrance, featuring Columbus alongside symbolic representations of time and progress—a testament to Denysenko’s ability to distill complex ideas into visually arresting compositions.

Shadows Of Unforgotten Ancestors II (2014): This mesmerizing artwork explores the enduring legacy of Ukrainian heritage through layered textures and evocative imagery, reflecting a profound connection to folklore and ancestral memory.

Denysenko’s work transcends mere aesthetic beauty; it engages viewers in contemplation about humanity's relationship with history, mythology, and the boundless potential of artistic innovation.

Where to read more

The artist Oleh Denysenko wikioo.org/en/artists/oleh-denysenko/
Similar works More works to compare wikioo.org/en/art/similar/oleh-denysenko-hero-D3DEVL-en/

Find this online

QR code linking to the download page for Hero

wikioo.org/en/art/download/oleh-denysenko-hero-D3DEVL-en/

Cite this artwork

MLA: Denysenko, Oleh. Hero. 2014, https://wikioo.org/en/art/oleh-denysenko-hero-D3DEVL-en/
APA: Denysenko, Oleh (2014). Hero [Painting]. https://wikioo.org/en/art/oleh-denysenko-hero-D3DEVL-en/
Chicago: Oleh Denysenko. Hero. 2014. https://wikioo.org/en/art/oleh-denysenko-hero-D3DEVL-en/
Harvard: Denysenko, Oleh (2014) Hero. Available at: https://wikioo.org/en/art/oleh-denysenko-hero-D3DEVL-en/

Hero — Oleh Denysenko

Look closely

Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

What catches your eye first, and why?
Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
How many faces can you find? ____ (our catalogue counts 1 — do you agree?)
Look back at Head (2008), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
Oleh Denysenko was about 53 when this was made. What in it looks like the work of an artist at that stage?

Your response

Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

Questions & Answers

What is the dominant color of "Hero" by Oleh Denysenko?

The color that stands out most in "Hero" is espresso (#413d35). The dominant color is useful when matching an artwork to an interior.

How can I get a digital file of "Hero" by Oleh Denysenko?

A digital image of "Hero" by Oleh Denysenko can be purchased on its Digital Image page: a high-resolution digital image download.

What color intensity does "Hero" by Oleh Denysenko have?

The colors in "Hero" by Oleh Denysenko have a balanced intensity.