
Kateryna is one of Taras Shevchenko's most prominent works, painted in 1842. It is not just a depiction of a girl, but a deep artistic protest against social injustice. The plot is based on the tragic fate of Kateryna, the heroine of the poem of the same name, who was seduced and abandoned by a Muscovite officer. Shevchenko skilfully conveys pain, loneliness and shame, condemning the cruelty and hypocrisy of the masters and social mores.
This work has become a symbol of the struggle for truth, reflecting both the drama of an individual and the pain of an entire nation. Due to its emotional depth and symbolism, the painting has gained wide popularity not only in Ukraine but also in the world. Today, Katerina is kept at the National Taras Shevchenko Museum in Kyiv, remaining an integral part of Ukraine's cultural heritage.