Place: Lebedyn
Born: 1872
Death: 1952
Biography:
Vasyl Hryhorovych Krychevsky, a renowned painter, architect, art scholar, graphic artist, film art consultant, pedagogue, and master of applied art and decorative art, was born in Lebedyn, Ukraine in 1872. He is the designer of the 1918 Ukrainian coat of arms, state seals, banknotes, and brother of Ukrainian painter Fedir Krychevsky.
Krychevsky had little formal education but developed 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 Kyiv Institute of Plastic Arts and the Kyiv Architectural Institute.
Krychevsky first gained public recognition in 1903 when he won the architectural competition to build the Poltava 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 around 3000 paintings, drawings, ornamental designs, and book covers. His work was influenced by French impressionism. Krychevsky designed sets and costumes for over 15 plays and operas, including Mykhailo Starytsky's Bohdan Khmelnytsky and Bedřich Smetana's The Bartered Bride. He worked with the Ukrainian National Theater from 1917 to 1918. Some of his works are present abroad, with the largest set in the Ukrainian Museum in New York.
Krychevsky's notable works include designing the state emblems and seals of the Ukrainian People's Republic, as well as the Republic's banknotes. He was a collector and student of Ukrainian folk art and promoted such handicrafts among common people.
Krychevsky's legacy can be seen in his contributions to the Ukrainian art world. He is considered one of the most important figures in Ukrainian art, and his work continues to inspire artists today. Important links to explore Krychevsky's work include https://Wikioo.org/@/Vasyl-Hryhorovych-Krychevsky, which features his biography and artworks. Additionally, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasyl_Krychevsky provides more information on his life and career. In conclusion, Vasyl Hryhorovych Krychevsky was a talented artist who made significant contributions to the Ukrainian art world. His work continues to be celebrated and admired by art enthusiasts around the world.