Picture in Focus: Ukrainian Greek Catholic Crucifix by Unknown Hutsul Woodcarver

October 9, 2022

Picture in Focus: Ukrainian Greek Catholic Crucifix by Unknown Hutsul Woodcarver

In my survey of art objects made from wood in the Sacred Art Pilgrim Collection, we turn now to a traditional example of woodcarving, one of the oldest forms of folk art, created by an unknown artisan from the Hutsul people, a Slavic ethnic group who mostly live on the southern slopes of the eastern Carpathian mountains in what is now Ukraine. The axe is an ancient emblem for this culture of woodcutters, known for their skill in timber rafting logs and crafting intricately carved wooden pieces like this week's featured Hutsul crucifix. It is made with two bars ending in trefoils in a style typical for Ukrainian Greek Catholics, who acknowledge the Pope in Rome while following an Eastern Orthodox style of worship. The criss-cross motifs and floral designs lightly cut with a knife into panels surrounding the central image of the Crucified Christ suggest the complex geometric patterns of traditional Ukrainian folk embroidery and pysanka Easter egg decorations. This new Ukrainian folk art piece can be found on the Crosses and Crucifixes page in the Schools of Sacred Art section. Prayer for the peace of Ukraine! (John Kohan)