Amvrosiy Zhdakha

Amvrosiy Zhdakha

Amvrosiy Zhdakha, a Ukrainian artist and graphic artist, was born on December 20, 1855. He worked in the genre of historical illustration, addressing themes from the Ukrainian past, particularly the Cossack era. His father was a Transdanubian Cossack. Zaporozhians, hetmans, and scenes of military and everyday life appear in Zhdakha’s work as bearers of honor, dignity, and freedom.

Zhdakha designed and illustrated books, mainly on Ukrainian history: “The Black Council” by P. Kulish, “Stories about Anton Holovatyi”, and others. From 1883 to 1885, Zhdakha created sketches of Ukrainian historical costumes and folk clothing for the first Ukrainian professional theater troupe of M. Starytskyi and M. Kropyvnytskyi.

In 1896, Zhdakha began illustrating T. Shevchenko’s Kobzar, becoming the first Ukrainian graphic artist to undertake this complex project. Zhdakha used the poet’s etchings, particularly the lesser-known ones, as well as his own drawings for this project. Many of these illustrations depict Cossacks. Shevchenko himself is even depicted surrounded by Cossacks in the illustration for the poem “My Thoughts, My Thoughts.” Unfortunately, this edition was never published.

The artist’s series of postcards featuring Ukrainian folk songs (with lyrics and notes) gained great popularity when they were printed by the “Chas” publishing house from 1893 to 1914. Each postcard contained a plot on the Cossack theme: “Oh, the Zaporozhians on the hill,” “The Cossacks are whistling,” “Oh, there is a grave in the field,” and “Oh, our glorious Zaporozhians were marching,” among others.

The artist died on September 8, 1927. He was buried in Odessa.

Amvrosyi Zhdakha’s work is important not only as an artistic phenomenon but also as a source for understanding how the Cossacks were interpreted in the historical culture at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. This was during the times of the Renaissance and nation-building. Under conditions of political censorship and restrictions in the scientific sphere, artists played a decisive role in creating images of the past, identifying contemporary people with them, and popularizing corresponding mental traits.

Thus, artists laid the groundwork for the Liberation Struggle.

Illustrations:

1. A. Zhdakha. Portrait

2. A. Zhdakha: Postcard: “Oh, there is a grave in the field.” 1911

3. A. Zhdakha. Postcard with an illustration for Panteleimon Kulish’s novel “The Black Council”. Chronicle of 1663.” Published by Yakiv Orenstein in Kolomyia in 1911.

The material was prepared by Iryna Zhakova, a researcher in the Scientific and Excursion Department.