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  One
of the greatest artists of our times, Vasyl Krychevsky
(1873-1952), an outstanding personality and artist
of broad inspirations represents a whole epoch of development
of the Ukrainian modern art of the first half of our century.
Over a period of a full half century, the entire artistic
movement in the center of Ukraine was in one way or another
connected with the name of this artist. |
In the field of architecture V. Krychevsky represents the
whole artistic trend of the rebirth of Ukrainian style. Basing
his works on the historical heritage of Ukrainian architecture,
the artist espoused, to a larger degree the utilization of
popular (peasant) motives of building. Industriously gathering
this rich material, the artist-architect transformed them
in a modern spirit, applying architectural forms to contemporary
constructional means and material. In spite of the picturesque
of his architectural forms, which he created, his buildings
were built in conformity with the constructive principle whereby,
he used few moderate ornaments and details and tended to apply
less and less frequently purely decorative means.
His most celebrated accomplishment is the building of the
Poltava Zemstvo that caused a sensation and precipitated vehement
opposition and criticism of Russian authors who alleged that
a Ukrainian style in architecture "does not exist at
all" and is "unknown" as such. Vasyl Krychevsky
based this project on examples of Ukrainian national architecture
then excising in wood. He applied the principles pf this wooden
construction to a building in masonry, thus arriving at a
wonderful synthesis of a modern Ukrainian style. This epochal
achievement was the beginning of the new renaissance of Ukrainian
architecture. Many public buildings, schools, hospitals, national
homes and private buildings were built according to the projects
of Vasyl Krychevsky during that period.
Although influenced by French impressionists, Krychevsky's
artistic legacy, which consists of many large and small oil
paintings and watercolours, display a very individual path.
Particularly notable are his paintings of Ukrainian landscapes
and scenes of Crimea. Krychevsky's outstanding technique in
capturing the purity of light, his lyrical use of color and
the synthesis of regional characteristics create harmonious
and peaceful intimacy in each work. There is no doubt that
V.Krychevsky is one of the creators of the Kiev school of
landscape painting which gave us a number of noted Ukrainian
artists.
In graphics V.Krychevsky is the pivot in setting the forms
for Ukrainian books. Basing his works on the old Ukrainian
gravure and folk art, the artist compiled a new modern type
of book covers and ex-Libras, extremely original in design
and diverse in graphical accomplishment. Having first embarked
upon barrock motives, which he used for well-known publications
of Prof. M.Hrushevsky and others, then utilizing popular primitives
(publications, Ukrainian Art", by brothers Scherbakivsky,
poetry by Chuprynka, etc.), he showed, a tendency towards
the constructivist movement in the last years, but he retained
his own interpretation.
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