27x9x9 cm, Terracotta, 1957
A gift of Oleksandr Mykhaliuk and Raisa Maievska, 2012
Judging by the sculpture’s creation date, Kapshuchenko made it in Argentina. He must have met travelling musicians on the streets of Buenos Aires often. He depicted his heroes in despair and hopelessness, perhaps in some critical situation. The figure of a little boy shrinking from the cold or poverty enhances the images’ drama. The master’s works are not just realistic; they are almost alive because they evoke empathy and compassion and encourage viewers to connect emotionally with his characters.