THE MYTHOLOGICAL IMAGE OF THE DRAGON IN EASTERN AND WESTERN VISUAL ART: FEATURES OF CONTENT AND FORM

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to identify and analyze the semantic and formal features of the mythological image of the dragon in Eastern and Western visual art. The following methods were employed: the historical-cultural method, the comparative method, and the method of art historical analysis. The findings of the study demonstrate that the image of the dragon is one of the most enduring mythological symbols in world culture, acquiring distinct semantic and artistic interpretations in different traditions. It has been established that in Eastern visual art the dragon is predominantly associated with wisdom, strength, harmony, natural elements, and cosmic order, whereas in Western art it is most often represented as an embodiment of chaos, danger, evil, and trial. The comparative analysis showed that these semantic differences directly influenced the formal characteristics of the image: in the Eastern tradition, plasticity, rhythm, decorativeness, and a close connection with the natural environment prevail, while in the Western tradition, dramatic intensity, compositional conflict, and an accentuated corporeality of the image are more characteristic. It has been proven that in contemporary visual culture the image of the dragon has not lost its relevance; rather, it retains its capacity for new artistic transformations in art, graphics, and design. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the comprehensive comparative analysis of the semantic and formal features of the dragon image in Eastern and Western visual art, as well as in the generalization of its symbolic and artistic differences in an intercultural dimension. The practical significance of the study is that its findings may be used in the teaching of art history, cultural studies, and art studies, as well as in the analysis of mythological symbolism in visual art, graphics, and design. Prospects for further research are seen in a more in-depth study of the dragon image in particular national artistic traditions, in the investigation of its transformation in contemporary design, illustration, cinema, and digital visual culture, as well as in a broader analysis of other mythological images from a comparative art historical perspective.