Old Church

Impression of the painting.

The watercolor "Old Church" was painted in 2006 in the Czech Republic by Anatoli Gostev Jr. The painting speaks of faith in a country that has lost its religious values. The Czech Republic is known for its numerous ancient castles, as well as its atheistic beliefs. The woman in the painting, with deep faith, searches for a church but finds only old, empty castles or abandoned, closed churches no longer needed. The world of double standards is highlighted by the depiction of two suns.

An elderly blind woman lived in the apartment, cared for by her loving husband. They had no children of their own and often brought joy to the neighborhood kids. After her husband fell ill and passed away, the woman was left alone — blind, grieving, and heartbroken. For half a year she mourned in silence, filling the apartment with sorrow.

One winter, she made her way to the Orthodox church in Pilsen, always closed to the public. There, she stood in final prayer before the old church she could not see. Then she took a rural bus into the forest. She walked into the snowy woods, collapsed, and passed away. The artist dedicated this painting to them — lives he never met, but whose presence he deeply felt, through the words of neighbors and the atmosphere of the place.

Blockchain Certificate of Authenticity

The painting is signed on the back: "Old Church" with the date 2006 and author's signature. "Old Church" is officially certified using blockchain technology on the Bitcoin network, ensuring permanent, tamper-proof verification of authenticity and provenance.

• Unique digital signature recorded permanently in the blockchain
• Guarantees immutable data regarding origin and authorship
• Can be verified independently using OpenTimestamps tools
• Transferable certificate ensures transparency and trust for future owners

A full PDF Certificate of Authenticity (COA) and OTS proof file (.ots) are available for download in Attachments.