Oh, those ravens swooped down

Ivan Novobranets, an Honoured Artist of Ukraine, is a member of the National Union of Kobzars and the National Union of Folk Art Masters of Ukraine. He has also dedicated part of his work to commemorating the victims of the Holodomor. The painting, “Oh, Those Ravens Swooped Down”, conveys the pain and tragedy of a mother who lost her son.

The communist totalitarian regime is to blame for this. The artist depicted ravens as symbols of grief and death that came to Ukrainian soil. The communist totalitarian regime is to blame for this. The artist depicted ravens as symbols of grief and death that came to Ukrainian soil.

Another of Novobranets’ works, “Oh, in the Year Thirty-Three,” also features ravens flying over the mass graves of Holodomor victims. The innocent are wearing traditional Ukrainian clothing.

The paintings are from Morgan Williams’ private collection. In the autumn of 2024, the collection was transferred to the Holodomor Museum.