Ivan Horyna (1937-2009) - Do poľa (Into the Field)

Artist: Ivan Horyna

Title: Do poľa (Into the Field)

Technique: Colored wood engraving on paper

Year of Creation: 1984

Markings & Signature:

Bottom right: Hand-signed and dated in pencil by the artist: “Ivan Horyna 1984.”

Bottom center: Hand-written title of the artwork: “Do poľa”

Bottom left: Limited edition / print run number: “125/200” (This is the 135th graphic print out of a limited run of 200 copies)

Reverse Side: Original paper label with the printed name of the artist and the title: “Horyna Ivan : KT / Do poľa”

Condition & Framing: The artwork is mounted in a passe-partout and professionally framed in a simple, elegant white wooden frame with glass.

Artistic Description and Context
This 1984 graphic print titled “Do poľa” by Ivan Horyna is a powerful and atmospheric example of Central European post-war graphic art, focusing on traditional rural motifs and the connection between humanity and nature.

Composition and Subject Matter: The central theme features a typical sub-mountain or mountain landscape with elements of traditional folk architecture (wooden cottages / log cabins). The artist masterfully captures the moment of two figures (presumably peasants or farmers carrying tools) heading out to work in the fields. The landscape in the background rises into hills characterized by traditional haystacks.

Artistic Technique and Style: The artwork is created using a multi-color relief printing technique, specifically wood engraving (drevoryt). Horyna utilizes contrasting solid black areas combined with dense linear hatching, achieving a dynamic, plastic, and dramatic expression. The color palette is restrained yet highly effective—dominated by earthy tones, browns, and blacks, with soft accents of light blue (in the sky and foreground details) and yellow-green that bring light into the scene, creating the impression of a morning or evening mist.

Collector Value: Being a limited edition print (number 125 out of 200), hand-signed and dated by the artist, the piece has a clear provenance and stable collector value. The original artist's label on the back of the frame further confirms its authenticity and historical cataloging.

Thanks to its timeless rural theme and precise technical execution, this graphic print is an excellent representation of the traditional Central European printmaking school of the 1980s.

Graphics - visible part: 48 x 25 cm
Frame: 67.5 x 44 cm

Biographical Data of the Artist

Name: Ivan Horyna Life Dates: March 21, 1937 (Martin) – 2009 (Bratislava)

Art Education: In 1962, he successfully graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts and Design (VŠVU) in Bratislava. He studied under the guidance of the legendary Slovak printmaker, National Artist Vincent Hložník.

Artistic Focus: Although he also worked with oil painting, his true domain and artistic mastery lay in fine printmaking (graphic art) and illustration. His works are dominated by themes of nature, landscapes, and humanity's connection to them.

Artistic Style: His work is characterized by complex compositions, highly cultivated linework, and an expressive approach to shape and form. He frequently stepped beyond the boundaries of pure realism, incorporating imaginative and deeply emotional elements into his compositions.