SATIRE OF GALICIA AS A PHENOMENON OF GRAPHIC ART AT THE 2ND HALF OF XIX TO EARLY XX CC. AND EVOLVEMENT OF ITS ARTISTIC IMAGINATIVE SYSTEM AND REFLECTIONS OF THE “CULTURE OF LAUGHTER”
Authors:   Institute of Ethnology of the National Academy of Sciences Lviv, Ukraina, Izhevsky A.V. , Fedoruk O. ,   ІNSTITUTE OF PROBLEMS OF MODERN ART. Kyiv, Ukraine,   Lviv National Academy of Arts, Ukraine
Published: June 2024

The book is devoted to a problem of studies on development of native satiric graphic art in Galicia at the 2nd half of XIX to early XX cc.On the ground of analytical research work in evolvement of imaginative structure have been traced some artistic and stylistic peculiarities of satiric graphic artistry. The satiric graphic art for the first time is complexly considered as creative phenomenon in political and homestead spheres of Galician social life with definition of specific features in genre of caricature so in masses-predestined printed press as in hand-written satiric periodicals and album drawings. In comparative perspective is considered creativeness by known masters of graphic art and amateurish artists.Since the second half of the nineteenth century the Ukrainian satirical graphics as an integral part of European art evolved in Galicia under Austrian power when the majority of Ukrainian ethnic territories belonged to Russia. The following objects were specific to Galician satire: Austrian authorities policy and Ukrainian national revival, a social structure of the society, international politics, religious leaders, immigrants, bohema. Thematically graphic satirists followed a gradual evolutionary line in the periodical and handwritten press – from socio-domestic to political satire. The domestic satire is considered in the context of political events. Artistically the evolution was characterized by the transition from the spatial to flat graphics and by the progress of an individualistic outlook. A figurative world evolution of Galician satirical graphics covered a considerable period of native and European art history from the late romantic of the middle of 19th century to early modernism of the beginning of 20th century. The satirical graphics art was a dynamic phenomenon and began to be used in illustration of the press, literature, advertising graphics and posters. In the beginning of 20th century ornamentality and flatness dominated in satirical graphic art stylistics. Satirists created new deriding images – old and wise Strakhopud, childish naive laughter of Khokhlyk, Smihus and Schutek, a symbol of ignorance Temnota, a grotesque image of the Ukrainian rebel of 20th century in contrast to a peaceful image of a Ruthenian peasant of 19th century. Specificity of satire and graphics combination within a particular art genre provided aesthetic and moral needs of society’s emotional expression. This demand referred to phenomena of democratization and mentality peculiarities of the region’s residents. Issues of national or European identity became a key of Galician satire phenomenon identification. Especially local peculiarities were not contrary to European direction of cultural evolution of Galicia. The feature referred to native satirical graphics as well. The following characteristics defined as typical for satirical graphics: its establishment as a separate genre of art, moralizing nature of ridicule exaggeration, comparing objects of satire in the form of opposition of negative and positive, beautiful and ugly, more subtle characteristics, folkloreness of satirical images, figurative synthesized forms creation.