- Year
- 1975
- Technique
- oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- 69×97 cm
- Status
- In the Artist's Estate
Seen from behind, a group of women search frozen fields for unharvested potatoes during the war years. Among them, according to family memory, are the artist's mother and likely his sisters - figures bound by shared endurance.
The painting does not depict battle, yet it speaks directly about war. In the background, the outlines of artillery are visible - a reminder of how close the front remains. The heavy earth, muted colors and bent silhouettes convey exhaustion and quiet determination. Survival here becomes an everyday act.
Maltsev portrays not tragedy alone, but resilience - people sustained by hope and an unbroken belief that life would continue beyond hardship. A moment of struggle becomes a testament to human persistence.
