Cultural-historical aspects of the creative work of Vasil Leonenko

Abstract

The article is dedicated to the work of the Chernihiv artist Vasyl Leonenko, who specializes in the linocut printing technique. He is one of the most expressive figures in Ukrainian art of recent decades. The artist has actively participated in many graphic and ex-libris exhibitions in Ukraine and numerous countries around the world, receiving numerous awards. He has held many personal exhibitions in Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, Lithuania, and Poland. Leonenko's work is highly valued and has entered the treasury of national art. Among the main works of the titled master are: the portrait series “Architecture of Chernihivshchyna” (1983-1999), “Ukrainian Historians of the XIX–XX centuries”, “Shevchenkiana in Ex-libris” (1980-2005), “In Memory of My Home”, dedicated to the native village affected by the Chernobyl contamination zone (1988-2006), “Sergei Yesenin” (1980-2006), “Architecture of Polish Cities”: Torun (1991), Grudziądz (1993), Ciechocinek (1996), Gliwice (1997); monotypes “Old Riga” (2006); illustrations to the lyrics of V. Strutinsky “Late Blackberry” (1997), Polish legends of Kruszwica, Holubskis (2003), and others. Leonenko not only utilizes all the possibilities of the linocut technique he has chosen but also diligently strives to avoid any borrowings from other techniques. The rough, laconic, and expressive language of linocut becomes entirely self-sufficient for him. The artist not only does not hide the conventionality of the image he created – he declares it. Leonenko's linocuts, especially in portrait images, are distinctly flat. In some works, he skillfully combines dark and white strokes. Ex-libris has an important place in Leonenko's creativity. Thanks to this form of art, he has received genuine international recognition. A significant portion of the book signs is made in multiple colors, demonstrating the high professionalism of the author. His works are characterized by intellectual content, laconic artistic language, high graphic culture, and professional mastery of graphic art techniques.