Design of five hundred hryvnias bill of the Ukrainian National Republic (revers) 1918

Curator: Here we have a fascinating piece of Ukrainian history: a design for a five hundred hryvnias bill from 1918, created by Heorhiy Narbut. Editor: My initial impression is that the craftsmanship is just beautiful, everything from the typography to the borders and details, especially considering what this was made of and its intended use. Curator: Narbut was a master of graphic art, and you see that clearly in the Art Nouveau style here. The context is crucial. This was designed during a turbulent period for Ukraine, amidst its struggle for independence. The bill was intended to be a symbol of national identity and economic stability. Editor: It’s amazing to see this kind of quality. How important materials were to this artwork: paper, printing techniques... and, more importantly, what would this note really *buy* at the time for someone who had access to it? The details of gold content also suggest material considerations of exchange and value for these people at the time. Curator: Exactly! And the design elements – the trident, the ornamentation – these were all carefully considered visual symbols to communicate Ukrainian heritage and aspirations to its new republic. Think about how imagery serves its social and political functions here: state-building using currency. Editor: The very *idea* of money representing a value agreed upon between the parties is what makes the circulation of this currency fascinating in these conditions of struggle you're highlighting. These objects aren’t “just money." They become tools for imagining Ukraine's economy and future in a material form. Curator: Indeed. Each bill then acts almost as a miniature propaganda piece, meant to inspire confidence but also laying claim to the idea of Ukraine itself. Editor: Studying objects such as this brings such richness. Today, having spent this time engaging with Narbut's hryvnia design, my interest gravitates now to the materials it was composed from: to imagine the very textures of the ink, to inquire to understand its use-value among those for whom it was intended. Curator: Absolutely. The design choices really do offer a window into a nation in transition and the birth of a modern Ukrainian visual identity.