Drawings of Five Male Busts

On the front side of the sheet, there are five portrait sketches of men of different ages, executed in the technique of academic drawing – pencil on paper (material with signs of oxidation). Compositionally, the works are situated separately from one another. All are portrayed from different angles – three-quarter, front, and profile. This approach to composing sketches is typical of academic drawings. Each portrait is accompanied by a caption indicating the author of the original (an approach characteristic of Yulian Zaiats), as well as the exact date, October 1911, which allows these sketches to be interpreted as part of a systematic educational practice within the art school. The faces of the subjects are unique, with individual characteristics such as facial expressions, eye movements, head shapes, and hairstyles. The author's attention to the psychological component is noticeable – some figures convey restraint and concentration, others – traits of age-old thoughtfulness. One of the characters is depicted wearing a hat, which gives the sketch a domestic feel. Light and shadow modelling, achieved through soft strokes with gradual tonal transitions, creates volume and depth. Particular attention is paid to modelling the face. All images exhibit harmonious tonal harmony, carefully proportioned elements, and anatomical accuracy. This sheet is an example of high-quality academic drawing from the early 20th century, demonstrating the influence of classical sources. The work demonstrates the author's comprehensive mastery of capturing portrait characteristics and modelling form with light. At the same time, the drawing is evidence of Yulian Zaiats' approach to the aesthetics of image presentation. On the reverse side of the sheet are later sketches of a female nude, dated 1919. Here we see a series of academic drawings of female nudes, presumably for educational purposes. Six figures are depicted in various angles, poses, and with varying degrees of detail, which is characteristic of the academic drawing practice of that period. The date markings suggest that the series is part of a daily process of studying the human figure, where the author recorded the model's poses over several sessions. In the centre is a figure with a bowl (?) in her left hand, leaning on her right knee, possibly executed as an element for a decorative composition or theatrical scene. All figures are female, nude, depicted in plastic dynamic poses, which indicates the high level of professional training of the author. Soft lines and clear contours reproduce the body's definition, facial expressions, muscle tension, and proportions. The compositional structure of the sheet suggests that the sketches served no other purpose than as careful exercises, yet they reveal a clear understanding of the laws of perspective and the construction of figures in space. Like other drawings from this period, this graphic sheet by Yulian Zaiats is a valuable source for studying the academic education system of the first third of the 20th century, as well as representing the practice of studying nude drawing, which was a mandatory part of an artist's education. At the same time, these sketches illustrate the sociocultural perceptions of the female body as an object of artistic study in academic discourse.

On the front are illegible signatures of the authors of the original images, as well as the signature of Yulian Zaiats. The dates of execution are indicated under the portraits: "9/10 1911"; "10/10 1911"; "7/10 1911"; "15/10 1911"; "14/10 1911". On the reverse side: "11/6 19" (twice); "12/6 19" (three times).

Borys Voznytskyi Lviv National Art Gallery