“Autumn. Dreaming Soul” – Symbolic Painting by Marina Stognieva

The Story Behind the Painting

“Autumn. Dreaming Soul” is an original painting by Ukrainian artist Marina Stognieva, created in 2020. The work is painted in oil on canvas and measures 70 × 80 cm.

This is a symbolic autumn landscape in which a real place gradually transforms into an inner, dreamlike world. Stone steps lead upward through the trees towards a solitary building, while nearby, among the rocks, sits a fair-haired female figure — an image of the soul immersed in its own thoughts.

General view of the painting “Autumn. Dreaming Soul”. Oil on canvas, 70 × 80 cm, 2020.

The composition is built like a journey. Massive stone steps guide the viewer’s eye deeper into the painting and upwards towards the building among the autumn trees. To the right, a light expanse of water and distant shore opens the composition, balancing the physical weight of the stone with the openness of the horizon.

Autumn in this work is expressed not only through yellow, red, ochre, and orange foliage. It also becomes an image of time, transition, and change. Partly bare branches, fallen leaves, and the long staircase create an atmosphere of reflection on how quickly life moves.

Marina Stognieva during the creation of “Autumn. Dreaming Soul”.

The painting combines landscape with symbolic storytelling. Rather than simply depicting autumn nature, Marina Stognieva creates a space in which each element can be read as part of an inner journey: the steps as a path, the building above as an unknown destination, the sea as a sense of infinity, and the female figure as a soul pausing for a moment along the way.

Detail of the painting — the image of the soul holding a rabbit.

A particularly important symbol is the rabbit held by the female figure. In this painting, the rabbit is associated with adventure and the fleeting nature of life. The small living creature in her hands adds a sense of fragility to the scene — a reminder that some moments can be experienced and held only briefly.

The textured oil brushwork is especially expressive in the autumn foliage and stone surfaces. Bright accents of colour seem to scatter across the canvas, contrasting with the calm pale sky and water. This gives the painting a space that feels both tangible and slightly dreamlike.

“Autumn. Dreaming Soul” is a painting about the journey, time, and the inner world of a person. The autumn landscape becomes a setting for reflections on change, dreams, adventure, and the fleeting nature of life.

→ Learn more about the artist

→ Visit the gallery

Artwork Details

Original Artwork & Collectible Fine Art Prints

The painting “Autumn. Dreaming Soul” is an original artwork by Marina Stognieva, created by hand in oil on canvas. It is a unique one-of-a-kind work.

Collectible Fine Art Prints personally signed by Marina Stognieva may also be available for selected works. Available formats, materials, prices, and other details can be discussed before ordering.

Payment & Worldwide Shipping

Payment can be made via PayPal, bank transfer, or another agreed method.

Worldwide shipping is available. Shipping costs and estimated delivery times are calculated individually depending on the destination and order details.

The painting on canvas is carefully packaged to protect the painted surface and ensure safe transportation. All purchase, payment, packaging, and international shipping details can be discussed directly with the artist before ordering.

“In this painting, autumn became an image of time and an inner journey for me. The soul sits among the stones holding a rabbit, while the steps continue upwards. The rabbit is a symbol of adventure and the fleeting nature of life — of that brief moment we try to feel and hold onto.”

— Marina Stognieva