Cover of the project of the large coat of arms of the Ukrainian State 1918

Heorhiy Narbut made this cover for the project of the large coat of arms of the Ukrainian State. Look at the way Narbut combines graphic precision with this lovely, muted palette. I wonder what it felt like to be him, hunched over a table, conjuring images of nationhood through ornamental lines and heraldic devices? I’m struck by how he merges historical motifs with a modern sensibility. See the stylized lettering, how it evokes both ancient manuscripts and avant-garde typography? It’s like he’s trying to ground a new national identity in a deep, yet also dynamically changing, cultural heritage. I find myself wanting to pull out my paints, to experiment with similar combinations of formal control and imaginative freedom. The way he balances tradition and innovation is a reminder that we’re always in conversation with the artists who came before, building on their ideas, pushing in new directions.