"Evening Shadows" (1980s) by Vladimir Sukhenko captures a transformative moment in Soviet art history, coinciding with the cultural openness brought about by perestroika. The painting reflects Sukhenko's engagement with European expressionist traditions, particularly resonating with the psychological depth of Edvard Munch. Through its atmospheric rendering of twilight, the work explores the emotional and visual transformations that occur as shadows lengthen and the landscape assumes an enigmatic quality.

The composition is anchored by two abstracted foreground figures whose elongated forms dissolve into the deepening shadows of evening. In the middle distance, a solitary figure stands silhouetted against a dramatic horizon dominated by a glowing coral-red sun. Organic, curved elements in the landscape create a sense of movement and subtle tension, while the stark vertical presence of a cypress-like tree disrupts the flowing contours, emphasizing contrast. Light and shadow interplay to evoke both physical transitions and psychological unease, characteristic of twilight's ambiguous nature.