Sacred motifs of Byzantine aesthetics in the Soviet artistic practice of Alphonse Mucha

Abstract

The article examines the peculiarities of the manifestation of sacred motifs of Byzantine aesthetics in the work of the outstanding Czech artist Alfons Mucha. The relevance of the topic is due to the growing interest in the synthesis of spiritual and religious traditions and secular art forms in modern cultural discourse. The purpose of the study is to identify and analyze the specifics of the interpretation of Byzantine iconographic stylistics in decorative works by A. Mucha, taking into account their symbolic content and aesthetic significance. The methodological basis consists of an art history analysis, an iconographic method, and a comparative typological approach. The empirical material was the paintings and graphic works of A. Mukhi (n=128). As a result of the research, it was found that the artist organically integrated elements of Byzantine icon painting (golden background, static poses, hieraticity of faces) into his original style (r=0.78; p<0.01). The symbolic meaning of sacred motifs is revealed in the context of the philosophical and aesthetic views of the master. The role of the Byzantine tradition in the formation of the unique artistic language of A. Mukhi, combining the spiritual and earthly principles (φ=0.69), is determined. The results obtained deepen the understanding of the cultural and historical origins of the Art Nouveau style and open up new facets in the interpretation of A. Mucha's work. The prospects for further research are related to the study of the reception of Byzantine art in the European culture of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.