Рисунок Льва Карсавина: от визуализации метафизики – к библейским стихам

V. I. Sharonov

V. I. Sharonov Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, Western branch https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9708-1446

Keywords: Lev Karsavin, symbolism of the cross, Maxim the Confessor, Nicholas of Cusa, Orthodoxy, Gnosticism, Kabbalah, visualization of metaphysics, coincidence of opposites, philosophical conversion

Abstract

The research is devoted to a unique document from the archive of L. P. Karsavin’s family – a drawing of an eight-pointed Orthodox cross decorated with visual elements and fragments from the Bible in Greek and Hebrew. The compositional integrity of the image – the cross, text fragments, and a combination of geometric elements – allowed the author to see the key to understanding the drawing in Karsavin’s theoretical work. Hypothesis testing confirmed the connection of the drawing with the book “On the Principles”, which contains an original philosophical interpretation of biblical verses, and therefore the drawing can show an example of symbolic visualization expressing the connection of philosophical ideas with their religious foundations. The author finds arguments in favor of seeing a personal (intimate) meaning in the symbolism of the drawing, due to the fact that the beginning of work on the book was accompanied by the story of L. P. Karsavin’s love for E. Ch. Skrzhinskaya. Skrzhinskaya became Karsavin’s philosophical muse, and her expected but failed visit to him in 1930 is considered to be a significant motive for the drawing. In the composition with the cross, the philosopher sought to express his love, faith, and memory of time spent together. The article highlights the works that influenced the creation of the graphic work: a diagram attributed to St. Maximus the Confessor, and works dedicated to the symbolism of the cross. The introduction of L. P. Karsavin’s drawing into scientific circulation significantly enriches the history of Russian religious philosophy with a unique example of visualization and gives a new understanding of the philosopher’s theoretical legacy.

Author Biography

V. I. Sharonov, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, Western branch

DOI: https://doi.org/10.34680/vistheo-2025-7-2-228-257

Vladimir I. Sharonov
Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy
and Public Administration,
Western branch, Kaliningrad, Russia
sharonovvi@gmail.com
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9708-1446

Abstract
The research is devoted to a unique document from the archive of L. P. Karsavin’s family – a drawing of an eight-pointed Orthodox cross decorated with visual elements and fragments from the Bible
in Greek and Hebrew. The compositional integrity of the image –
the cross, text fragments, and a combination of geometric elements – allowed the author to see the key to understanding
the drawing in Karsavin’s theoretical work. Hypothesis testing confirmed the connection of the drawing with the book
“On the Principles”, which contains an original philosophical interpretation of biblical verses, and therefore the drawing can show an example of symbolic visualization expressing the connection
of philosophical ideas with their religious foundations. The author finds arguments in favor of seeing a personal (intimate) meaning
in the symbolism of the drawing, due to the fact that the beginning of work on the book was accompanied by the story of L. P. Karsavin’s love for E. Ch. Skrzhinskaya. Skrzhinskaya became Karsavin’s philosophical muse, and her expected but failed visit to him in 1930 is considered to be a significant motive for the drawing.
In the composition with the cross, the philosopher sought to express his love, faith, and memory of time spent together. The article highlights the works that influenced the creation of the graphic work: a diagram attributed to St. Maximus the Confessor, and works dedicated to the symbolism of the cross. The introduction of L. P. Karsavin’s drawing into scientific circulation significantly enriches the history of Russian religious philosophy with a unique example of visualization and gives a new understanding
of the philosopher’s theoretical legacy.

Keywords: Lev Karsavin, symbolism of the cross,
Maxim the Confessor, Nicholas of Cusa, Orthodoxy, Gnosticism, Kabbalah, visualization of metaphysics, coincidence of opposites, philosophical conversion.

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About author

Vladimir I. Sharonov
Cand. Sci. (Pedagogics),
Leading Research Fellow
Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy
and Public Administration, Western branch
62, Artilleriyskaya St., Kaliningrad, 236016, Russian Federation
E-mail: sharonovvi@gmail.com

For citation:
Sharonov V. I. Lev Karsavin’s drawing: from visualization
of metaphysics to Bible verses. Journal of Visual Theology. 2025.
Vol. 7. 2. Pp. 228–257. https://doi.org/10.34680/vistheo-2025-7-2-228-257

Lev Karsavin’s drawing: from visualization of metaphysics to Bible verses

Abstract

Author Biography