Seeds of Tradition | Tenebrist Ukrainian Still Life Oil Painting by Liliya Muglia

Seeds of Tradition is an original tenebrist still life oil painting on canvas, measuring 28 × 37 inches (71 × 94 cm). The composition centers on wheat—often referred to as Ukrainian gold—a powerful symbol of life, continuity, and cultural inheritance. Rendered within a ceremonial arrangement, the painting draws upon religious iconography, ancestral objects, and traditional vessels to evoke themes of faith, nourishment, and generational unity.

Emerging from a darkened ground, the illuminated wheat sheaves act as both spiritual and cultural anchors, representing wisdom, resilience, and the enduring bond between land and people. The restrained palette and classical lighting heighten the contemplative mood, inviting reflection on the universal significance of the seed as a source of balance, prosperity, and shared humanity.

The original artwork remains in the artist’s private collection and is available for acquisition. Fine art print options are also offered for collectors seeking a carefully produced reproduction that preserves the depth, color, and symbolic detail of the original work.