THE MAGIC OF RITUALISM IN THE PAINTING “ST. JOHN’S EVE” BY HENRYK SIEMIRADZKI

Abstract

The article provides a detailed art historical analysis of the painting St. John’s Eve by Henryk Siemiradzki. The study is aimed at presenting the compositional features of the artwork, as well as its chiaroscuro and color modeling, and the overall figurative system of the painting. The main part of the article focuses on the interpretation of the folk ritual of Ivan Kupala in the context of academic and Romantic painting of the second half of the nineteenth century. The semantic significance of the key elements of the composition is analyzed, in particular the images of water, fire, and the natural environment, which reflect traditional concepts of Ukrainian culture. The study also examines the place of the painting within the artist’s oeuvre and in the broader context of the development of European and Ukrainian art. It is determined that the painting combines features of academicism and romanticism, forming a holistic artistic image of Kupala night. As a result of the research, it is established that the artwork possesses both artistic and ethnocultural value, as it reflects the traditions and worldview of the Ukrainian people.