2026 № 1 (56)
Between Sail and Ferry: I.K. Aivazovsky and the Creation of a Myth (How Painting Preserved the Image of the Sailing Fleet in the Era of Technical Progress)
UDC 167; 168.522; 75
LBC 85.103(2)
DOI: 10.51678/2226-0072-2026-1-352-377
For cit.: Shvets E.G. Between Sail and Ferry: I.K. Aivazovsky and the Creation of a Myth (How Painting Preserved the Image of the Sailing Fleet in the Era of Technical Progress). Hudozhestvennaya kul’tura [Art & Culture Studies], 2026, no. 1, pp. 352–377. https://doi.org/10.51678/2226-0072-2026-1-352-377. (In Russian)
Shvets Elina G.
PhD (in Pedagogy), Associate Professor, Head of the History and Theory of Art Department, Russian State University for the Humanities, 6 Miusskaya Sq., Moscow, 125047, Russia
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1821-0586
ResearcherID: ACS-8171-2022
Between Sail and Ferry: I.K. Aivazovsky and the Creation of a Myth (How Painting Preserved the Image of the Sailing Fleet in the Era of Technical Progress)
Abstract. The article explores the influence of art on cultural memory during the transition from sail to steam navigation in the 19th century. Through an analysis of Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky’s (1817–1900) works, the article demonstrates how painting not only documented historical changes but also romanticized sails, contrasting them with the industrial era of steamships. The focus is on how the artist, following Romantic traditions, transformed maritime scenes into symbols of a fading epoch, emphasizing the heroism and tragedy of humanity’s struggle against the elements. The study reveals how I.K. Aivazovsky’s works shaped a nostalgic image of sailing ships that endured in the public consciousness even after their disappearance. The art of the marine painter, who also depicted symbols of the new era — steamships, emerges as a bridge between past and future, allowing the sail to remain not just a historical fact but also a part of maritime mythology, inspiring generations of explorers and art enthusiasts.
Keywords: I.K. Aivazovsky, sailing fleet, steamships, technological progress, Romanticism, artistic myth, nostalgia, 19th century, historical memory, seascape, industrialization
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Received 29.07.2025
Revised 13.10.2025
Accepted 21.10.2025
