On April 23, 2024, at the Chernivtsi Regional Museum of Local Lore, employees of the Department of Archaeology, Medieval History, and Modern History of the Region held cultural dialogues titled «Unknown Today», dedicated to the creativity of Bukovinian women of the Belle Epoque.
The event was attended by teachers, local historians, and students from Chernivtsi Multiprofile Lyceum No. 11 «Prestige».
The discussion about the work of our fellow countrywomen began with an aromatic cup of coffee and treats, accompanied by the music of L. van Beethoven and F. Chopin, just as it was over a century ago in the social salons of hospitable Chernivtsians.
The moderator of the event, Oksana Dragomyretska, Head of the Department of Archaeology, Medieval History, and Modern History of the Region, spoke about the need to bring back from oblivion the names and popularize the work of talented Bukovinian women from the late 19th to early 20th centuries, who, thanks to titanic efforts and an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and learning, asserted their right to create and pursue their favorite craft. Besides the well-known figures, there remain many bright personalities whose lives and work deserve attention even today.
Oksana Dragomyretska spoke about Mykola Ivasyuk – one of the first Bukovinian artists who received an academic education in Europe, exhibited his works in Chernivtsi while still a student, and after completing his studies, opened an art studio and art courses for adults in the city, one of the attendees of which was Anna Kīslinger. It was her artwork, which was severely damaged and long awaited restoration, that until recently was kept in the funds of #CRMLH. Thanks to the restoration work carried out by CRMLH restorer Veronika Hnatiuk-Hanych, the portrait of an unknown woman, created by Anna Kīslinger in 1899, is now exhibited in the local history museum's exposition.
Maria Ilkiv, Deputy Director for Scientific Work at the Chernivtsi Regional Art Museum, spoke about two artworks by Anna Kīslinger from the CRAM funds that were identified and restored, thus bringing the artist's name back from oblivion. She also shared the history of the paintings' creation and information about the artist herself.
Yulia Mykosianchyk, Senior Researcher at the O. Kobylyanska Literary Memorial Museum, spoke inspiringly about previously unexhibited artworks – a portrait of O. Kobylyanska by artist Anna Czartoryska and the landscape «Carpathian View» by Lea Prunku – from the museum's funds, which were gifted to the writer. She shared exceptionally interesting facts from their biographies, gathered through meticulous research, and presented portraits of the artists. Ms. Yulia supplemented her talk with information about the circle of our compatriot writer Olha Kobylyanska, her favorite places, particularly the view of «Maiden's Rocks» depicted in Lea Prunku's painting. The exhibition of these artworks became possible after their restoration by CRMLH artist Tamara Mazur.
Yaryna Vyshpinska, Associate Professor at the Department of Music, Chernivtsi National University (CNU), and Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, spoke about the establishment of musical art in Bukovyna and the first private teachers who taught musical literacy to children of the nobility; the concerts held in social salons, the gradual rise in the level of music education in the region, and shared interesting facts with those present. Ms. Yaryna reported on her first encounter with the original «Dance Album for Piano by Emilia and Karolina Mikulich», discovered in the collection of the Scientific Library of Chernivtsi National University named after Yuriy Fedkovych. The scholar presented the guests with the republished album.
Attendees were able to enjoy musical pieces from the aforementioned album performed by Yaryna Vyshpinska and Valentyn Nestoriak, a third-year student of the Department of Music, CNU, specializing in 025 «Musical Art». At the end of the event, Alla Antofiichuk, Associate Professor of the Department of Modern Ukrainian Language, Faculty of Philology, Chernivtsi National University named after Yuriy Fedkovych, and Candidate of Philological Sciences, announced a new meeting dedicated to the names of known and unknown Bukovinian women, which will take place next month within the walls of CNU.
As a keepsake, guests received souvenir mini-postcards featuring the presented artworks.
