THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF THE FORMATION OF THE IMAGE OF KYIV IN UKRAINIAN ART: FROM ORIGINS TO INDEPENDENCE

Abstract

The article analyzes the historical context of the formation of Kyiv’s image in Ukrainian art from ancient times to Ukraine’s independence. It examines the development of the landscape genre, which played a key role in depicting the architectural and natural environment of the capital. Special attention is given to the works of artists who portrayed Kyiv, from medieval engravings to 19th- and 20th-century paintings. The infl uence of urban transformations, socio-political changes, and cultural processes on the artistic representation of the city is highlighted. The contribution of prominent Ukrainian artists, including Taras Shevchenko, Mykola Pymonenko, Oleksandr Bohomazov, Yurii Khymych, Serhii Shyshko, and others, to the creation of Kyiv’s visual identity is explored. The article focuses on the evolution of stylistic approaches to depicting the city, from the documentary accuracy of early engravings to the expressive and symbolic interpretations of modernists. This research provides insight into the multidimensional nature of Kyiv’s image in Ukrainian art and its signifi cance for shaping national identity.