Peaks of the book art of Sofia Karaffa-Korbut

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Шевченко П. К., Лукавий Ф. П. № 2 (71) 216-226 Image Image

The article examines the main directions in the formation of such concepts as book art and artistic design of a book edition. Using the creative approach of the Lviv master of graphic art Sofia Karaffa-Korbut in illustrating and designing book editions as an example, an analysis is conducted of the main trends and requirements for artistic book design. The article explores the artist’s approach to illustrating Ivan Franko’s poem “Ivan Vyshenskyi,” which is considered the pinnacle of her creative achievements in the art of book illustration and design. Interpretations of the narrative scenes and the formation of the characters’ images are provided. In creating the spread compositions, the narrative structures of the literary work were carefully taken into account.

The article outlines the techniques used by Sofia Karaffa-Korbut to reveal the image of the main character in accordance with the strategy employed by Ivan Franko in writing the poem. It also includes descriptions of compositional decisions and interpretations of symbols that enhance the meaning of the illustrations. A detailed analysis of the artistic design of the edition and its visual content is presented, along with an examination of its role in shaping the overall perception of the illustrative sequence and the aesthetic appearance of the publication. The concept of hand-drawn lettering and its role in the artistic design of the book is explored. The article identifies the graphic techniques and artistic means used by the illustrator in her unique authorial style and determines their leading role in conveying the content of the poem. Technical information about the first publication of the poem, which featured Sofia Karaffa-Korbut’s illustrations and artistic design, is also provided.

Overall, this article offers a professional analysis of the creative legacy of the Lviv artist Sofia Karaffa-Korbut, focusing on her illustrative series and artistic design for Ivan Franko’s poem “Ivan Vyshenskyi.”

Keywords: book, artistic design, illustrative series, authorial technique, graphic language, hand-drawn lettering, page-by-page illustration, spread illustration, graphic artist Sofia Karaffa-Korbut, graphic illustration techniques.

doi: 10.32403/1998-6912-2025-2-71-216-226


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