National-romantic manifestations of secession in the Ukrainian painting of modernism

Background. The article highlights the stylistic search for secession (modern) in the context of formative principles in Ukrainian painting of modernism. 

Objectives. The work reveals the features of modern, stylistic, pictorial, ideological search of a number of Ukrainian artists of the first third of the twentieth century. The genre differences of the principles of secession in Ukrainian painting and their synthesis by other stylistic tendencies are highlighted. The philosophical and ideological-aesthetic basis of secession in the art of the first third of the XX century is studied. 

The decorative beauty of nature invariably dominates in A. Manevych's landscapes. He stylizes its forms, synthesizing in his work the latest artistic trends of Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, secession in combination with realistic traditions of the Ukrainian landscape genre. F. Krychevsky in his work combines the innovations of secession with the decorativeness of folk art. His works are characterized by breadth of design, confidence in drawing, attention to detail, epic images. M. Zhuk was close to literary symbolism and secession, most developing in his own work genres of decorative panels and portraits. The artist resorts to symbolism, poeticization of images, boldly filling them with associations. The work of V. Maksymovych, as well as M. Zhuk, demonstrates connections with the art of secession and symbolism. His panels - unusual in design and technique - are full of romanticism, combining the real and stylized. The defining feature of K. Piskorsky's work is the depth of his artistic worldview and philosophical nature. The balance of compositional elements, rhythmicity, geometry of volumes and clear linearity are among the main arsenal of the artist's means of expression.

Results. The article proves that powerful inspirations of secession came to our lands through artists who studied in Krakow, Vienna, Munich: M. Zhuk, F. Krychevsky, O. Novakivsky, O. Murashko, A. Manevych. The publication highlights the regional features of secession in Ukrainian painting: the attraction of Western Ukrainian artists to monumental and decorative religious compositions, and Eastern Ukrainian - to paintings on secular themes. The national sources of secession in Ukrainian painting, which are organically combined with Western European figurative and plastic principles, are also indicated.