Artistic Traditions in Ukraine

Read the article and do the task.

A. As for as the development of art of painting in Ukraine is concerned, one should remember that the early period referred to icon-painting, which began to develop in Kyivan Rus in the end of the 10th century after Prince Volodymyr had baptised the state. Icon painters- mostly monks- depicted Christ, the Virgin, angels and saints. Byzantine traditions were a model. Mosaic and frescos of St Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv are the most distinguished among the memorials of that period. The icon ‘The Virgin of Volyn’ which is regarded as a masterpiece belongs to the period of the Old-Rus State the Halychyna-Volyn’.

B Portrait painting as a separate genre appeared during the Renaissance (16th century) and was strongly influenced by the icon tradition. The first portraits included portrayals of nobles and Cossack chiefs.

C Many Ukrainian painters were attracted to the new Academy of Arts in St Petersburg (1757), which cultivated the classicist style of painting then popular in Europe. Well-known Ukrainian artists of that period are D. Levytskyi, K. Holovachevskyi, V. Borovykovskyi.

D Ukrainian art of the middle of the 19th century was closely connected with the name of T. Shevchenko, who devoted most of his painting to Ukrainian interests. He was considered the father of modern Ukrainian painting. Shevchenko painted numerous portraits, self-portraits and landscapes with many architectural monuments of Ukraine. During the 19th century landscape painting appeared as a separate genre, and not only in the works of Shevchenko. Inspired by romanticism, I. Sochenko, A. Kuindzhi, I. Aivazovskyi, S. Vasylkivskyi and I. Pokhytonov devoted their efforts to depicting rural scenery.

E At that time Ukraine was called East European Italy. Artists from Russia and European countries visited Ukraine to enrich themselves with new themes and images. One of such artists was Vasyl Schternberg, a friend of Shevchenko, a master of lyrical landscape.

F Odesa art school and Kyiv drawing school occupied an important place at the beginning of the 20th century. Outstanding artists such as Mykola Murashko and Mykola Pymonenko were prominent representatives of that time.

G Ukrainian art of the turn of the 20th century could not avoid the influence of the leading European art trends — impressionism and avant-garde tendencies. Kharkiv school of 1910-1930, where artists were under the influence of constructivism, was notable for its originality. It was represented by A. Petrytskyi and V. Yermylov. O. Ekster propagated the ideas of cubiform futurism in painting and worked in Kyiv. O. Bohomazov experimented with abstraction, Yurii Mykhailiv continued the traditions of the symbolists. Worldwide known Kazimir Malevich spoke of the influence of Ukrainian baroque and icon painting on his works. An original phenomenon of the early 20th century was Mykhailo Boichuk Art School. It combined the traditions of folk picture, local primitive painting and the principles of religious art.

H Ukrainian art of the Soviet period is represented by many talented painters as T. Yablonska, Y. Bokchai, O. Shovkunenko, R. Selskyi, S. Shyshko, V. Zaretskyi and many others. M. Pryimachenko became a unique phenomenon having no analogues in world art. She is considered  a classic of Ukrainian folk art.

I Present-day Ukrainian art is developing in harmony with world art. National theme remains topical in painting — in thematic and historical pictures, landscapes, associative and formalistic works.

Refer the paragraphs (A-I) from the text to the questions. В якому абзаці є відповідь на запитання, вкажіть букву (A-I).

1. Who is considered to be the father of modern Ukrainian painting?

2. What period is connected with the development of abstraction and symbolism?

3. What genre of painting was under the strong influence of Byzantine traditions?

4. What are the tendencies of   present-day Ukrainian art?

5. What art schools played an important role at the beginning of the 20th century?

6. Why was Ukraine called East European Italy?

7. When did portrait painting appear as a separate genre?

Read the words in the article that match these definitions.

1. someone who produces art, especially paintings or drawings (paragraph C)

2. to describe something, especially in picture or writing (A)

3. to use talent, paintings, pictures, etc. in order to help something be successful (D)

4. a particular type of art, which has certain characteristics that all examples of this type share (B)

5. a picture that you have in your mind (E)

6. interesting or unusual, that is worth being noticed or mentioned (G)

7. well-known and important (F)

8. to do something that expresses the feelings, opinions, manners, etc. of a group of people (H)

9. a person who belongs to a certain group of people (F)

10. the main subject or idea in a piece of painting (I)

11. interesting because it deals with something that is important at the present time (I)

Match the words with their Ukrainian equivalents:

1. development                                        a) манера, стиль

2. depict                                                   b) присвячувати

3. distinguished                                        c) залишатись

4. masterpiece                                          d) вплив

5. genre                                                     e) відомий

6. devote                                                   f) сільський пейзаж

7. inspire                                                   g) розповсюджувати

8. rural scenery                                          h) представник

9. occupy                                                   i) розвиток

10. representative                                      j) визначний, видатний

11. notable                                                 k) шедевр

12. propagate                                              l) видатний, відомий

13. influence                                               m) займати

14. outstanding                                          n) надихати

15. remain                                                  o) малювати, зображати