Ukrainian identity in the images and symbols of Olena Kulchytska’s graphic works

Abstract

This article introduces the graphic work of Olena Kulchytska (1877–1967) within the cross-cultural context of Austro-Hungary and the Russian Empire pre-1914, where she received her training. Kulchytska is at once an internationalist and European artist and indebted to regional religious practice and local folkloric motifs. She practised her craft designing ex-libris bookplates, an important genre in Ukraine. The article then analyses the iconography of Kulchytska’s graphic works on military themes, emphasizing their significance in the context of Ukrainian identity. The parallels between the horrors she depicted and events from Ukrainian history (from the Early Middle Ages to the second half of the twentieth century) are identified, and the quite timeless character of most of the images and symbols is demonstrated. The practical significance of this study lies in its emphasis on the war theme in modern art, especially in the conditions of the current war in Ukraine.