“Ukrainian Lunch. Borscht” – Original Painting on canvas by Marina Stognieva

The Story Behind the Painting

“Ukrainian Lunch. Borscht” is an original work by Ukrainian artist Marina Stognieva, created in 2026 as part of the large-scale author project “Picturesque Guide to Ukraine”. The painting is dedicated to the Zhytomyr region and explores one of the most recognisable images of Ukrainian cuisine — a traditional lunch centred around borscht.

At the centre of the composition is a large bowl of deep red borscht, surrounded by foods that create the atmosphere of a traditional Ukrainian table. Pampushky, salo, homemade sausage, garlic, onion, herbs, and red chilli turn the still life into a broader story about taste, everyday life, and tradition.

General view of the painting “Ukrainian Lunch. Borscht”.

The composition is structured as a layered still life in which the eye moves gradually from the large bowl of borscht to the food arranged on the wooden board and then to the objects hanging in the background. This gives the painting not only decorative richness but also the feeling of a real kitchen space.

Colour plays a particularly expressive role. The deep red of the borscht echoes the red chilli and the warm tones of the homemade sausage, while the greens of the onions, herbs, and garlic introduce fresh contrasting accents. Warm ochres, pinks, burgundies, and golden tones create a sense of abundance, warmth, and domestic comfort.

Marina Stognieva does not aim for photographic precision. The food is painted with lively, textured brushstrokes, and some details are intentionally kept free and generalised. Because of this, familiar ingredients such as salo, pampushky, onion, and garlic gain painterly expressiveness and become part of the overall rhythm of the work.

The painting “Ukrainian Lunch. Borscht” in the artist’s studio.

An important part of the work is the sense of generosity at the table. The artist does not reduce the subject to a single dish: borscht becomes the centre of an entire gastronomic image, around which the atmosphere of a Ukrainian lunch is built — rich, simple, homely, and instantly recognisable.

Delicious details of the painting — homemade sausage, salo, garlic, and red chilli.

The texture of the painting becomes especially visible in these details. The salo is painted in soft pink, cream, and white tones, the sausage in dense darker strokes, while the red chilli acts as a vivid final accent. These foods do more than complete the composition — they help define its character and mood.

Delicious details of the painting — pampushky, salo, and green onions.

Pampushky, green onions, and garlic make the composition even more recognisable. Together with borscht, they form an image of the traditional Ukrainian table, where food becomes not only part of everyday life but also part of culture, family memory, and hospitality.

“Ukrainian Lunch. Borscht” is part of “Picturesque Guide to Ukraine”, Marina Stognieva’s large-scale author project in which different regions of Ukraine are explored not only through landscapes and architecture, but also through everyday life, traditions, food, and the distinctive atmosphere of each place.

Within the Zhytomyr section, this painting adds another important dimension — the taste of Ukraine. There is no formal presentation here; instead, the composition is built around the feeling of a living domestic table, where familiar foods become part of a larger story about Ukrainian culture.

→ Explore the Zhytomyr Region in “Picturesque Guide to Ukraine”

→ Open the “Picturesque Guide to Ukraine” project

Artwork Details

Original Artwork & Collectible Fine Art Prints

The painting “Ukrainian Lunch. Borscht” is an original artwork by Marina Stognieva, created by hand in oil on 300 g/m² paper and existing as 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 artwork on paper 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.

“I wanted to show a Ukrainian lunch not simply as a collection of traditional dishes, but as part of our culture and domestic memory. Borscht, pampushky, salo, garlic, and onion are familiar things that, for me, carry warmth, generosity, and a sense of home.”

— Marina Stognieva