The artist and philosopher Yevgeny Vasilyevich Korolenko divided his works into four periods: Nanai, symbolic, tribal and Slavic. Although they differ in subject matter and painting techniques, they all have a lot in common on a deeper level.

The painter used to recall how in the late years of his career he became interested in “painting pictures of the life of peoples in the Amur Region” and studying the local art traditions. The Nanai people were eager to reveal to Yevgeny Korolenko the secrets of their ancient crafts, the meaning of symbols and many other things. Korolenko was especially surprised to find out that these people, that lived at the same time as him, “have preserved their own symbols, which were established a long time ago.” The strong spiritual connection between their generations prompted the artist to reflect on the cultural background of his own nation. Over time, he explored this subject in depth and was then ready to work on his Slavic period.

The theme of childhood and motherhood has also evolved, finding its way from the Nanai period to the symbolic one. In his art history analysis of the triptych “My Land”, Pavel Petrovich Popelsky elaborated on the role of images of children,

Numerous portraits that Korolenko created during his Nanai period do not yet carry a profound philosophical meaning. The artist painted them in a realistic manner, paying great attention to ethnographic and psychological accuracy, and was able to convey the personality and mood of each sitter for his portraits, be it a child, an old man, a hunter or a mother.

Yevgeny Korolenko’s early works include a waist-length portrait of an Oroch girl with round rosy cheeks and lips and mischievously curious almond-shaped eyes. Her national costume is complemented by a bright yellow neckerchief and a green bow on her short hair. These bright elements make the child’s image seem even more joyful and life-affirming. The thoughtful approach to the material life was a step toward a deeper understanding of the spiritual life.

Yevgeny Korolenko’s paintings were repeatedly presented at all-Union, national and international exhibitions, including in Japan, the United States and Germany.