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Abstract: The article discusses the interpretation and methods of artistic representation of Christian motifs in Ivanov’s poetic collection “An Icon Lamp” (1922). The author of the article argues that Christian motifs in this collection of poems play a very significant meaning-forming role and become the core foundation of its artistic integrity. It is vividly demonstrated that the poet combines elements of Orthodoxy and Catholicism in his lyrical space, mixing them with some pagan ideas (antique and ancient Slavic ones). His individual authored interpretation of the ideas and images of Christianity is based on the development of the tradition of Russian spiritual poetry and the artistic heritage of Dante, Goethe, Dostoevsky, and Kuzmin. In the process of interpreting Christian symbols, Ivanov conducts a most active creative dialogue with Blok. He echoes his elder contemporary, depicting Christ framed in roses and referring to Catholic iconography. The symbol of the “green ray” of the lamp, created by Ivanov, also has its origin in Blok's poetry – it performs the function of a leitmotif in the context of the collection. The Christian motifs in “An Icon Lamp” are often artistically represented by Ivanov via ecphrasis, which is very characteristic of his poetry (visualization of the imagery, intensive use of light and color elements). The evolution of Christian motifs in “An Icon Lamp” indicates the vector of transformation of Ivanov's lyricism. The creation of the image of a monk-painter separated from the psychology of the author, on the one hand, and allegorically expressing his spiritual and aesthetic aspirations on the other hand, is a result of the specific objectification of Ivanov's lyrical experiences. This image is dynamic and realizes the idea of “the path”, which is very significant to Ivanov. The culmination in the development of Christian motifs in the context of “An Icon Lamp” is a triptych in the magazine version titled “Monastic Poems” and saliently characterizing the author’s axiology. It conveys the ideal notions of the poet not only about the nature and the meaning of artistic creation, but also about the life creation. However, in the subsequent poems of “An Icon Lamp”, Christian symbolism is largely desacralized and interpreted as a manifestation of the beauty of national customs and rituals.

About the author(s) :

Nataliya G. Koptelova

Kostroma State University (Kostroma, Russia)

ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7145-223X

Publication Timeline:

Date of receipt: 07.04.2023; date of publication: 31.10.2023.

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