The Phenomenon of Heorhii Narbut: Graphic Creativity and Tradition in the Contemporary Ukrainian Sociocultural Dimension

Abstract

The relevance of this study is determined by the growing scholarly and societal interest in the formation of Ukrainian national identity amid contemporary sociocultural transformations, as well as by the necessity to reconsider the role of visual culture and graphic design as instruments for its representation. In this context, the creative legacy of Heorhii Narbut emerges as a unique phenomenon that combines national tradition with modern artistic exploration, forming the foundation of Ukrainian graphic culture and retaining its significance within the contemporary artistic and design environment. The subject of the study is the representational capacity and adaptability of the Narbut letterform as an element of graphic design and as a medium for transmitting Ukrainian identity in contemporary sociocultural realities. The object of the study is the creative output of Heorhii Narbut. The study aims to examine the role of Heorhii Narbut in shaping Ukrainian national identity through the prism of his graphic legacy. The research objectives include outlining the artist’s innovative artistic concepts and analysing the representational potential of the Narbut letterform within the contemporary Ukrainian sociocultural dimension. During the study, a significant body of sources was analyzed in strict adherence to a chronological framework, allowing for the reconstruction of the historical context in which Narbut’s work developed, as well as the tracing of the dynamics and thematic content of publications across different historical periods. Publications by scholars from the first half of the 20th century, including émigré researchers working abroad (F. Ernst, M. Zerov, M. Burachek, I. Mozolevskyi, I. Krushelnytskyi, et al.), proved to be invaluable. Among contemporary studies, particular attention was given to the works of S. Bilokin, P. Biletskyi, M. Filevych, Ye. Hula, O. Kovalov, V. Krychevskyi, V. Mitchenko, V. Panchenko, M. Mudrak, and others. This systematic and chronologically structured approach provided a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of scholarly interpretations of Narbut’s graphic legacy and allowed for an assessment of its significance for the development of modern Ukrainian culture and graphic arts. The methodological foundation of the study is an interdisciplinary approach, necessitated by the multidimensionality of the research object and the need to combine general scientific, historical-cultural, and art-historical methods. Specifically, the study employed analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, systemic, socio-cultural, and contextual analysis, visual-communicative analysis, historical, chronological, and analytical methods, comparative-historical methodology, semiotic and interpretive (hermeneutic) approaches, and the method of systematization. The integrated application of these methods enabled a deep and holistic comprehension of Narbut’s creative legacy. Special attention is given to the continuity between historical heritage and contemporary practice: even under conditions of war, Ukrainian designers actively engage with Narbut’s artistic principles, interpreting his typographic works as a source of inspiration for the creation of contemporary typefaces. Talented practitioners do not merely experiment with forms but consciously draw upon Ukrainian cultural roots and artistic traditions, which today constitute a powerful basis for the preservation of national identity. Therefore, the findings of the study can be applied in the practical work of contemporary designers and serve as a theoretical and methodological foundation for training specialists in Graphic Design in higher education institutions, fostering the integration of historical heritage into contemporary artistic and design practices.