Girl by the Stream

Although most of the paintings featuring peasants signed by Octav Băncilă depict scenes of hard labor, in the work "Girl by the Stream" we observe the female character in a moment of rest. She sits barefoot by the shore, her apron reflected in a calm portion of the water, but what exactly caught her attention in the turbulent water remains a mystery. The painting "Girl by the Stream" fits within one of the major themes explored by Octav Băncilă. The realism for which he would later become appreciated was essentially a critique of the social differences between classes. He did not seek the idyllic aspects of life, but instead believed that art should always be put in the service of the progress of humanity and the nation.

Octav Băncilă, born on February 4, 1872, near Botoșani, spent his childhood in the home of his sister, Sofia Nădejde. He grew up in an environment influenced by socialist ideas, which were later reflected in his paintings. The artist's dialogue with contemporary society, represented in a realistic manner, is evidence of the modernity of Băncilă's work.