Stylization of history in the works of N.V. Kukolnik

Examines the concept of “Stylization of History” and its application through the forgotten works of mid-19th-century author Nestor Vasilyevich Kukolnik. This concept is characterized by a free interpretation of the past in a figurative manner, while still maintaining reliance on well-known facts, events, or qualities of historical figures, expressed within a specific stylistic framework. If the notion of truth is pertinent to history, then relative verisimilitude is significant for Stylization of History. Kukolnik’s inclination towards stylization is attributed to his life circumstances and his aesthetic sensibilities as a writer, establishing that the portrayal of the past in his artistic endeavors was connected and influenced by the work of his friends - artist K.P. Bryullov and composer M.I. Glinka. The stylization is closely linked to the phenomena of archaization and the writer’s inclination towards literary examples from the past. It is observed that as early as the 1830s, a realistic trend started to emerge in Russian literature, but for the staunch conservative Kukolnik, the works of Western European romantics continued to serve as his models. The classic writers’ viewpoint on Kukolnik’s work is outlined, with most of them offering critical assessments. Through the analysis of the short story Sergeant Ivan Ivanovich Ivanov, or All as One , the embodiment of historical stylization in a work of art is revealed. The potential for renewed interest in Kukolnik’s work is also discussed, suggesting that his works could be reimagined in the language of modern genre forms.