Geniuses of Ukrainian arts: Olena Kulchytska’s letters to Stefan Taranushenko (April – September, 1957)

Abstract

The aim of the research is to publish and analyze the collection of letters by Olena Kulchytska as well as its introduction to scientific circulation, which would make it possible for researchers to fill in the lacunae in the biography of the artist. The methodology of the research includes the use of art criticism, historical method, and the methods of empirical knowledge. The scientific novelty of the research. The letters of the talented Ukrainian artist Olena Lvivna Kulchytska to the famous art critic Stefan Andriiovych Taranushenko throughout the period from April to September of 1957 are published for the first time. The collection of letters is accompanied by the introductory article, commentary, and illustrations. The main themes of Olena Kulchytska’s letters are defined for the first time. The themes include artistic and working details regarding the preparation of various albums («Hutsulshchyna», «National building in the Western regions of Ukraine», «Folk clothes of the Western regions of Ukraine»), illustrations to «Tales», ex-libris for S. Taranushenko’s home library, etc. The fact of artistic collaboration between these two prominent personalities within Ukrainian culture and science is illustrated for the first time. The research also points out the noble action, that unites them both – the transfer of their artistic works to museums, libraries, and archives. An attempt is made to characterize the 1950s as the era of recognition and understanding of O. Kulchytska’s talent. By this time, she had accumulated a massive artistic legacy, which had already been popularized through exhibitions, wide reproduction of her works, publication of monographs and articles, dedicated to the artist. Conclusions. Familiarization with the collection of Olena Kulchytska’s letters gives an opportunity to broaden our views on her activity in 1957 as well as her ideas, which were realized by the artist during subsequent periods, and her personality. Along with 16 letters, some archival materials concerning collaboration between O. Kulchytska and S. Taranushenko in the late 1950s are given, thus providing a significant addendum to the collection of letters.