A 1917 illustration by Heorhiy Narbut from his 'Ukrainian alphabet' series, featuring a decorative letter 'I' alongside a scene of traditional toys and figures.

Heorhiy Narbut, a central figure in the development of Ukrainian graphic design, produced his 'Ukrainian alphabet' in 1917. This specific sheet, representing the letter 'I', demonstrates his mastery of combining historical motifs with a modern, stylised approach. The composition is divided between a decorative, calligraphic letterform and a narrative illustration that captures a sense of play and cultural identity.

The illustration depicts a collection of toys and figures set against a backdrop of traditional architecture. Narbut employs a flat, graphic perspective that draws inspiration from both folk art and the precision of early twentieth-century book design. The figures, including a soldier and a traditional Cossack, are rendered with clean lines and a deliberate lack of depth, allowing the focus to remain on the arrangement of shapes and the balance of the scene. The palette is carefully controlled, using muted tones that evoke a sense of history and archival quality.

Narbut was known for his ability to synthesise disparate visual languages. In this work, the ornate, foliage-entwined letterform contrasts with the stark, bold typography of the letter 'I' beside it. This juxtaposition is characteristic of his broader approach to typography, where the letter is treated as an object of aesthetic value rather than merely a functional tool. The inclusion of toys, such as the wooden horse and the bear, adds a whimsical element to the composition, grounding the work in the realm of childhood and cultural heritage. This print offers a clear view into the graphic sensibilities of the period, reflecting a time when artists sought to define a distinct national visual identity through the medium of the printed page.