Vasyl Krychevsky
Encyclopedia
Vasyl Hryhorovych Krychevsky ' onMouseout='HidePop("12751")' href="/topics/Vorozhba">Vorozhba
, Kharkov Governorate
- November 15, 1952 in Caracas
, Venezuela
) was a Ukrainian
painter
, architect
, art
scholar, graphic artist, and master of applied art
and decorative art
. He was the brother of Ukrainian painter Fedir Krychevsky
.
, to the family of a Jewish country doctor who converted to Orthodox Christianity and married a Ukrainian woman.
Krychevsky had little formal education, but a deep interest in Ukrainian folklore
and art history
. During the First World War
, he was one of the founders and rectors of the Ukrainian State Academy of Arts. In the 1920s he taught at the Kiev Institute of Plastic Arts, the Kiev Architectural Institute, and the Odessa
Art School. He then served in the architectural department of the Kiev State Art Institute until 1941.
Krychevsky moved to Lviv
in 1943 where he was appointed a rector
of a new Ukrainian art school, the Higher Art Studio. After the World War Two
, he lived briefly in Paris
before immigrating to South America
in 1947. He died in Caracas
, the capital of Venezuela
on November 15, 1952.
Zemstvo Building (now the Poltava Regional Studies Museum). His design of the building was based on the traditions of Ukrainian folk architecture
.
As a painter, he created a total of about 300 paintings. His work was influenced by French impressionism.
It was at the request of President Mykhailo Hrushevsky
that Krychevsky designed the state emblems and seals of the Ukrainian People's Republic
as well as the Republic's bank notes
. Krychevsky was a collector and student of Ukrainian folk art, and promoted such handicrafts among common people.
From 1907 to 1910, Krychevsky designed sets
and costume
s for over 15 plays
and operas including Mykhailo Starytsky's
Bohdan Khmelnytsky and Bedřich Smetana
's The Bartered Bride
. From 1917–18 he worked with the Ukrainian National Theater.
Vorozhba
Vorozhba is a city in Sumy Oblast, Ukraine. Population is 8,384 ....
, Kharkov Governorate
Kharkov Governorate
Kharkiv Governorate or Kharkov Governorate was a governorate of the Russian Empire originally founded in 1780. It was renamed to Sloboda Ukraine Governorate in 1797 and back to Kharkiv Governorate in 1835....
- November 15, 1952 in Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
) was a Ukrainian
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
scholar, graphic artist, and master of applied art
Applied art
Applied art is the application of design and aesthetics to objects of function and everyday use. Whereas fine arts serve as intellectual stimulation to the viewer or academic sensibilities, the applied arts incorporate design and creative ideals to objects of utility, such as a cup, magazine or...
and decorative art
Decorative art
The decorative arts is traditionally a term for the design and manufacture of functional objects. It includes interior design, but not usually architecture. The decorative arts are often categorized in opposition to the "fine arts", namely, painting, drawing, photography, and large-scale...
. He was the brother of Ukrainian painter Fedir Krychevsky
Fedir Krychevsky
Fedir Krychevsky was an influential Ukrainian early modernist painter. He was the brother of graphic designer Vasyl Krychevsky.-Biography:Krychevsky was born in Lebedyn to the family of a Jewish country doctor who converted to Orthodox Chritianity and married a Ukrainian woman...
.
Life
Vasyl Krychevsky was born in the village of Vorozhba, near LebedynLebedyn
Lebedyn is a city in Sumy Oblast, Ukraine. Population is 28,948 . An air base is located nearby.In 1708 the city was a site of ethnic cleansing against Ukrainians during the Executions of Cossacks in Lebedin by the Russian Empire.-See also:...
, to the family of a Jewish country doctor who converted to Orthodox Christianity and married a Ukrainian woman.
Krychevsky had little formal education, but a deep interest in Ukrainian folklore
Ukrainian folklore
Ukrainian folklore is the folk tradition which has developed in Ukraine and among ethnic Ukrainians. The earliest examples of folklore found in Ukraine is the layer of pan-slavic folklore that dates back to the ancient Slavic mythology of the Eastern Slavs. Gradually, Ukrainians developed a layer...
and art history
Art history
Art history has historically been understood as the academic study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts, i.e. genre, design, format, and style...
. During the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he was one of the founders and rectors of the Ukrainian State Academy of Arts. In the 1920s he taught at the Kiev Institute of Plastic Arts, the Kiev Architectural Institute, and the Odessa
Odessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
Art School. He then served in the architectural department of the Kiev State Art Institute until 1941.
Krychevsky moved to Lviv
Lviv
Lviv is a city in western Ukraine. The city is regarded as one of the main cultural centres of today's Ukraine and historically has also been a major Polish and Jewish cultural center, as Poles and Jews were the two main ethnicities of the city until the outbreak of World War II and the following...
in 1943 where he was appointed a rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of a new Ukrainian art school, the Higher Art Studio. After the World War Two
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he lived briefly in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
before immigrating to South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
in 1947. He died in Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
, the capital of Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
on November 15, 1952.
Artistic career
Krychevsky first gained public recognition in 1903 when he won the architectural competition to build the PoltavaPoltava
Poltava is a city in located on the Vorskla River in central Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Poltava Oblast , as well as the surrounding Poltava Raion of the oblast. Poltava's estimated population is 298,652 ....
Zemstvo Building (now the Poltava Regional Studies Museum). His design of the building was based on the traditions of Ukrainian folk architecture
Ukrainian architecture
Ukrainian architecture is a term that describes the motifs and styles that are found in structures built in modern Ukraine, and by Ukrainians worldwide. These include initial roots which were established in the Eastern Slavic state of Kievan Rus'. After the 12th century, the distinct architectural...
.
As a painter, he created a total of about 300 paintings. His work was influenced by French impressionism.
It was at the request of President Mykhailo Hrushevsky
Mykhailo Hrushevsky
Mykhailo Serhiyovych Hrushevsky was a Ukrainian academician, politician, historian, and statesman, one of the most important figures of the Ukrainian national revival of the early 20th century...
that Krychevsky designed the state emblems and seals of the Ukrainian People's Republic
Ukrainian People's Republic
The Ukrainian People's Republic or Ukrainian National Republic was a republic that was declared in part of the territory of modern Ukraine after the Russian Revolution, eventually headed by Symon Petliura.-Revolutionary Wave:...
as well as the Republic's bank notes
Ukrainian karbovanets
The karbovanets has been a distinct unit of currency in Ukraine during three separate periods. The name is also used in the Ukrainian language for the Imperial ruble and the Soviet ruble, but not for the modern Russian ruble....
. Krychevsky was a collector and student of Ukrainian folk art, and promoted such handicrafts among common people.
From 1907 to 1910, Krychevsky designed sets
Set construction
Set construction is the process by which a set designer works in collaboration with the director of a production to create the set for a theatrical, film or television production...
and costume
Costume
The term costume can refer to wardrobe and dress in general, or to the distinctive style of dress of a particular people, class, or period. Costume may also refer to the artistic arrangement of accessories in a picture, statue, poem, or play, appropriate to the time, place, or other circumstances...
s for over 15 plays
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
and operas including Mykhailo Starytsky's
Michael Starytsky
Mykhailo Starytsky was a Ukrainian writer, poet, and playwright. He was the cousin of the famous Ukrainian composer Mykola Lysenko and a father-in-law to Ivan Steshenko. He was orphaned early in life and raised by Lysenko's father, so he was able to supply much of the information for the...
Bohdan Khmelnytsky and Bedřich Smetana
Bedrich Smetana
Bedřich Smetana was a Czech composer who pioneered the development of a musical style which became closely identified with his country's aspirations to independent statehood. He is thus widely regarded in his homeland as the father of Czech music...
's The Bartered Bride
The Bartered Bride
The Bartered Bride is a comic opera in three acts by the Czech composer Bedřich Smetana, to a libretto by Karel Sabina. The opera is considered to have made a major contribution towards the development of Czech music. It was composed during the period 1863–66, and first performed at the...
. From 1917–18 he worked with the Ukrainian National Theater.