Another version of the same event (10/03/99)

Another version of the same event

In actuality there are two depictions of the same subject by Repin; the other, begun earlier (1879) but completed later (1893), may be found at the Kharkiv Art Museum in Ukraine.

Interestingly, the two paintings mirror Repin's own bicultural background. Born and raised in Ukraine, he completed much of his artwork in Russia, but often returned to his beloved homeland. In Soviet times Repin was always presented as a Russian artist and that is why even his Ukrainian-themed works were allowed to appear on stamps of the USSR.

Each version of "Kozaks Writing a Letter" has its own outstanding attributes, but the first-mentioned, which is housed in St. Petersburg, is the more famous and it is the only one that has appeared on stamps. This "preference" is more likely due to Russian chauvinism (objects located in Russia were most often selected for USSR stamps as opposed to items from other constituent Soviet republics) than any deficiency in the alternative painting. The latter version was awarded a gold medal at an art exhibition in Munich shortly after its completion and is in no way inferior to the earlier rendition.

The Kharkiv painting (Figure 4) shows its characters arranged somewhat differently; if anything, the colors on this canvas are more vibrant than the St. Petersburg variant. The attire worn by the crafty Sirko (who stands behind the scribe), as well as on some of his companions at arms, shows greater ornamentation than the more famous "Russian" painting.

The "Ukrainian" rendering is certainly worthy of postal reproduction, perhaps even more so than the St. Petersburg version which already "had its turn."

Let's hope that Ukraine Post will soon see fit to reproduce one variant or the other so that all the world may share in one man's splendid representations of the Ukrainian Kozak spirit on stamps issued by the country where this spirit was born.

Dr. Ingert Kuzych may be contacted at P.O. Box 3, Springfield VA, 22150 or by e-mail at: ingertjk@gateway.net

| Home Page |