From the correspondence of Ivan Yizhakevych with Fedir Konovaliuk (1941 - 1961): the 150th anniversary of birth of I. Yizhakevych

Well-known Ukrainian artists Ivan Sydorovych Yizhakevych (1864-1962) and Fedir Zotykovych Konovaliuk (1890-1984) acquainted as a teacher and a student in the school of painting of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, and later they became both close friends and colleagues who performing successfully in cooperation covers, illustrations for works of Ukrainian classical writers as well as paintings, had very good relations, almost like a family. The letters offered for publication belong to the period of intense creative cooperation in the sphere of graphics and painting of both artists in the 1940-1960s. Epistolary heritage of both artists, as we know, was not published and not thoroughly studied, its information value has not been measured yet and therefore the letters of Ivan Yizhakevych will certainly be of interest not only to researchers, but also to educated people who are interested in art. They have inimitable humor and language of Ivan Yizhakevych and refl ect creative process of the artist (collecting materials, creating compositions, color nuances, etc.); details of cooperation with F. Konovaliuk and warm relations with him. Of course the introduction of letters of Yizhakevych to scientifi c community is important because it will allow a more complete reconstruction of creative biographies of both artists during the period of 1940-1960s. The letters are deposited in the Institute of Manuscript of Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and published selectively, preserving the author’s style and spelling with minor spelling corrections. Little-known sketches and graphic works (mainly sketches to illustrations) of Ivan Yizhakevych will also be a valuable addition to the publication of the article.