Kirzhaieva Iryna

Kyiv in the Second Half of the 20th Century through the Photographs by Ukrainian Historian Mykola Kotliar

Abstract: The aim of the study. This research aims to expand the biographical information available on Mykola Kotliar, focusing specifically on his keen interest in photography. It seeks to offer a glimpse into the scholar’s personal world by publishing his thoughts and personal notes he left on the back of numerous photographs he took. Additionally, this study aims to introduce into scholarly discourse previously unpublished photographic documents from M. Kotliar’s personal archive, depicting Kyiv in the 1960s–1980s. Research methodology. A biographical approach has been employed to explore Kotliar’s talent as an amateur photographer, whose hobby was rooted in a creative approach and a deep engagement with photographic theory. Historical-chronological and historical-comparative methods were used to trace toponymic, architectural, and systemic changes in the appearance of Ukraine’s capital. Scientific novelty. The publication of facts on Mykola Kotliar’s private life, particularly his profound passion for photography, enriches our understanding of his personality. Examining photographic records of Kyiv from the second half of the 20th century and comparing them with the contemporary urban landscape enables usto trace the continuity and transformations in the city’s appearance, influenced by the passage of time, changing historical conditions, and human activities. Conclusions. Lives of scholars, like those of any individual, extend beyond their professional endeavors. Thus, additional insights into his activity beyond Mykola Kotliar’s academic research contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of his personality. Furthermore, his capturing the streets, urban landscapes, and architectural landmarks of Kyiv on photographs during the 1960s – early 1980s provides us with an opportunity to trace visual changes in Kyiv’s appearance and draw conclusions about the causes and consequences of these transformations for Kyiv’s architectural and cultural heritage.

Keywords: Kyiv architecture and monuments, 1960s–1980s, M. F. Kotliar, personal archive, photographic documents, Institute for Archival Studies of V. I. Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine.

  Full-text PDF    https://doi.org/10.15407/np.74.051     Citation

• Kirzhaieva Iryna (V. I. Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine, Ukraine, Kyiv, [email protected]) ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0147-8711

Cite:
Kirzhaieva Iryna (2025). Kyiv in the Second Half of the 20th Century through the Photographs by Ukrainian Historian Mykola Kotliar. Academic Papers of V. I. Vernadskyi National Library of Ukraine, (74) 51-72. (In Ukrainan). doi: https://doi.org/10.15407/np.74.051

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