BUTOVICH Nicholas (Mykola) Yasin (pen name — Butomus)

1 декабря 1895 (village Petrovka of the province of Poltava) — 21 декабря 1961 (Hackensack, the state of new-Джерси, USA)

graphic artist, painter, set designer, decorative artist-прикладного art

From the family of a wealthy Cossack. He studied in the Cadet corps in Poltava (1906-1913). Participated in the First world war as a soldier of the Russian army, fell into Austrian captivity. After the liberation he participated in the Civil war (1918-1920) on the side of the army of the Ukrainian national Republic. He was interned and stayed in the camps for Ukrainian soldiers in Poland.

Fled to Prague, where he continued his artistic education at the Academy of fine arts and Higher artistic-промышленной school. Then he studied at the Higher school of fine arts in Berlin and the Academy of graphic arts in Leipzig (graduated in 1926).

In 1920-30-х lived in France and Yugoslavia, in the 1930-40-х — in Lviv and other cities of Western Ukraine. Mainly engaged in easel and book graphics; worked in the techniques of woodcut, etching, various techniques of drawing (pencil, watercolor, pastel). Executed landscapes, portraits, cartoons. In his work was influenced by Г. И. Нарбута neoprimitivism; turned to the style of the lubok, the puppet theatre. Strongly contributed to the popularization of Ukrainian culture: traditions, mythology, folklore. The author of cycles of woodcuts "Ukrainian spirits" (1924), painting and graphic works "thoughts about the Azov brothers" (1920-50-е); series of illustrations to the works Н. В. Гоголя ("old world landowners"), И. П. Котляревского ("Aeneid"), В. С. Стефаника, П. А. Кулиша.

After world war II was in West Germany, in 1947 moved to the USA and settled in the town of Ridgefield-парк near new-Йорка. Turned to easel and monumental painting. Developed decorative designs for fabrics for textile firms. Member of the Association of Ukrainian artists of America.

Member of the salon d'automne (1928), International exhibitions in the National Museum in Munich (1947).

Wrote epigrams and satirical verses on Ukrainian writers, actors, artists, publishers,; the author of "the Autobiography" (1956), the memoir "Cadet corps" (1959), "a Rebellion against Hetman (Gray division)" (1959).

he was Buried at the Ukrainian Orthodox cemetery in South Bound-Брук (state of new-Джерси).

Works are in Museum and private collections. Monograph А. Федорука "Mykola Butovich. Life and work" (Kyiv — new-Йорк, 2002).