Leopold Levytskyi

Leopold Levytskyi (1906-1973) — was a renowned Ukrainian modernist artist, a prominent representative of the older generation of Lviv avant-garde and "Soviet modernism." He studied under the masters of Polish Secession at the Krakow Academy of Fine Arts, including W. Jarocki, K. Sichulski, F. Pautsch, and J. Mehoffer. Later, he was influenced by European avant-garde movements, working in the styles of Constructivism, Purism, and Expressionism. In the 1930s, he was a member of the left-wing radical avant-garde association "Krakow Group." 

Levytskyi worked in the techniques of etching, drypoint, monotype, and linocut. In his early period, he created abstract plastic compositions. His style is distinguished by the simple, concise stylization of natural forms and an omnipresent rhythm. His works often featured themes of — social satire and witty grotesque. 

The painting Banquet exemplifies Levytskyi's characteristic approach to stylization and formal simplification of multi-figure compositions. The work is structured through the rhythmic arrangement of silhouettes, creating an effect of chaotic yet structured movement. This scene serves as a metaphor for a society shaped by stereotypes.

The 1970s marked the crystallization of Levytskyi’s style. His works from this period, including Banquet, are defined by distinctive stylization, grotesque simplification of forms, and a deep social subtext. The painting is a significant example of Soviet modernism, blending artistic experimentation with social critique.