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1879 - 1947

Fedor Krychevsky

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Fedor Grigorevich Krychevsky was an outstanding Ukrainian painter, teacher and an active public figure, the first rector of the Ukrainian Academy of Arts; he was a professor at the Kiev Art Institute for many years, was awarded the title “Honored Artist of Ukraine” (1940).

He was born into a family of a baptized Jew, a Zemstvo paramedic. He was one of eight children and grew up in the Ukrainian small village of Malaya Vorozhba (Kharkiv region) on the Psel River. The talent of Fedor, just like the talent of his elder brother Vasily (the future outstanding architect and artist), manifested itself early – he painted with coal, embroidered his own compositions, molded figures of clay. In the 1890s, the talented guy was noticed by Count V. Kapnist, in the estate of whom Fedor got acquainted with painting, could read books from a rich library, began to copy paintings from albums and original works of art.

An example of Ukrainian Art Nouveau was Krychevsky’s monumental triptych “Life” (1925-1927), exhibited in Europe and the United States. Many prominent Ukrainian artists (the Kiev school) consider themselves students of Professor Krychevsky. The main works of the artist are in the permanent exposition of the National Art Museum of Ukraine.

Key ideas:

– One of the first paintings of F. Krychevsky, with which he participated in an academic competition, demonstrated the maturity of his talent. In the canvas “The Bride”, the plot is solved without any routine. The composition has a frieze construction with its measured and solemn rhythm. The painting is tough, complete and vivid; the color is restrained. All these features will always be characteristic of the works of the master – they make his works epic and monumental.

– The national color, manifested both in the choice of themes and in the decorative details of paintings, is a distinctive feature of Krychevsky’s entire work. No wonder his creative report on the trip – the painting “Wedding Rite in Ukraine” – got negative reviews from Russian critics, who announced that the artist “showed weakness: he loved everything native”. That is why Krychevsky was denied further financing.

– As a portrait painter, the artist often uses decorative bases that emphasize the poetic or symbolic meaning of the created real portraits – this is evident in the portrait of his wife, depicted on a gold background.

– The triptych “Life”, the main work of the master, is recognized as a vivid example of Art Nouveau in the history of Ukrainian art. It contains the synthesis of the elements of art nouveau and Ukrainian religious painting (local colors, flatness, “empty” background) that are combined most harmoniously. He uses the same method in the historical genre.

F. Krychevsky mostly remained true to the realistic manner, seeing the main advantage of the artist not in the change of the artistic orientation, but in the improvement of pictorial mastery. He is characterized by a broad and expressive manner of painting, the monumentalization of a form and a special emotional component: pride of “the native”.

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1879

1896 - 1901

1902

1903

1907

1911 - 1912

1913 - 1917

1917

1919

1922

1926 - 1928

1932

1939

1940

1947

The birth of the artist

Fedor Krychevsky was born on May 22, 1879 in the city of Lebedin, the Russian Empire (now Sumy region of Ukraine).

The artist became a student of the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture

Prepared by K. Savitsky for admission, the future artist became a student of the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, studying with A. Arkhipov, V. Serov, etc. He spent summer time in the village of Shishaki in Poltava, where his work was fueled by the study of folk types and peasant life.

Participated in a trip to England

Participated in a trip to England with a delegation from the tsar’s Russian house to see the coronation of Edward XVII. In London, the young graduate, along with his comrade I. Myasoedov, on behalf of Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna, had to sketch the ceremony; managed to visit museums and galleries.

Entered the workshops of I. Repin and D. Kardovsky

Entered the workshops of I. Repin and D. Kardovsky at the Petersburg Academy of Arts, but could not study because of his illness and lack of money. Returning to his homeland, he worked hard, including in the open air. The artist settled in the Miasoedovs’ estate, but often traveled to the village of Shishaki, where he met Lydia Staritskaya, who became his wife and Muze.

Enrolled in the class of Fritz Rubo

Enrolled in the class of Fritz Rubo, the battle painter of the Petersburg Academy of Arts, at the same time visiting the sculptural workshop of V. Beklemishev, learnt the etching technique from Vasily Mate. The maturity of his talent was demonstrated by the painting “The Bride”, created in 1910 for a competition and so highly appreciated that the author received a scholarship for a trip abroad.

Visited Germany

Visited Germany, France, Italy; in Vienna, he studied with Austrian modernist Gustav Klimt who had a decisive influence on the painting manner of the artist.

Started teaching at the Kiev Art College

Started teaching at the Kiev Art College; became its director in 1914. His colleagues were Murashko, Burachek, Boychuk and others. Among his student, there were T. Yablonskaya, V. Kostetsky and S. Grigoriev. The artist directed his main creative powers to the portrait genre.

Became one of the founders of the Ukrainian Academy of Arts

Became one of the founders of the Ukrainian Academy of Arts and its first rector, led, together with I. Izhakevich, a class of historical painting. He joined the Association of The Artists of Red Ukraine.

Went to a village

Went to a village to survive – in the same year, A. Murashko and a son of his colleague Manevich died and it was the beginning of the starvation. Krychevsky purchased an ordinary house in the village, rebuilt it according to the project of his brother Vasily. Subsequently, the house had a branch of the Academy for summer students practice. In Shishaks, the artist collected a large collection of carpets and embroideries, icon paintings and ceramics.

Headed workshops, which were very popular

Since the opening of the Kyiv Art Institute, he taught there by the beginning of the Second World War, headed workshops, which were very popular among the beginning painters – they were visited by P. Sleta, A. Filbert, S. Otroshchenko, who later became prominent cultural figures in Ukraine.

Participated in the work of the Association of the Artists of Red Ukraine

Participated in the work of the Association of the Artists of Red Ukraine. Finished the triptych “Life” that made him famous and was exhibited at many Ukrainian exhibitions and abroad. In particular, in 1928, it became a real sensation at the International exhibition in Venice. Press of not only Italy praised the art benefits of the work; around 40 reproductions of the masterpiece were published.

Worked as a teacher at the Kharkov Art Institute

In connection with the process of curtailing the “Ukrainization”, his fellow professors – Malevich, Kozyk, Gelman, Tatlin and the brother of the painter who took up the cinema – left the Kyiv Institute. Fedor Grygoryevich left Kyiv for 1932-1934 and worked as a teacher at the Kharkov Art Institute. In 1933, “Return” – a part of the triptych “Life” was shown at the exhibition in Copenhagen and Warsaw, later – in Chicago and New York. The decade was marked by intense, successful creative work: thematic paintings, portraits, participation in the competition for the creation of the project of the monument of T. Shevchenko, work in the workshop of the Institute, organization of “UUM” (The Union of Ukrainian Masters), was a deputy chairman of the Union of Ukrainian Painters.

Received the degree of the doctor of arts

Received (together with V. Krychevsky) the degree of the doctor of arts. Soon both brothers (first in Ukraine) received the title of Honored Artist of their country.

Refused from the evacuation to Ufa

Refused from the evacuation to Ufa; during the occupation times, he was the chairman of the Union of Ukrainian Artists. Made an attempt to go to Europe to his brother, although was detained halfway by the NKVD; the artist was deprived of his title and was forbidden to live in the capital; the place of exile was chosen the village of Irpen in Kyiv district.