The importance of scientific animalistic images in russian art of the XX century

An article deals with a special area of graphics of the XX century - a scientific animalistic drawing, characterized by the property of sign. An ethological illustration representing the spectrum of behavioral movements of an animal is analyzed. This kind of images gives a vivid example of a symbolic, iconic interpretation. The origins of the scientific animalistic drawing are touched upon, it is noted that it was widely used and was particularly in demand during historical periods of scientific discoveries, the artistic structure of which requires close analysis. The article considers the importance of science in the Russian society of the XVIII-XX centuries, its influence on art, the role of scientific animalistic images of the XX century for the exhibits of biological museums in Moscow and the animalistic drawing in the scientific book. Thanks to the fruitful interaction of animal artists with biology scientists, their common understanding of the goals and tasks of creativity, the scientific illustration has acquired the qualities of an artistic image, without ceasing to meet scientific goals. From the sphere of a strict protocol drawing of the previous centuries ("kunstkamera picture" of the XVIII century), it turned into a work of art with a set of its specific features. Reliance on the achievements of natural sciences, especially biology, scientific knowledge of the animal world, which were observed in the works of V. Vatagin, A. Komarov, V. Trofimov and other masters is one of the conditions of the animalistic art of the XX century. The uniqueness of this kind of art consisted both of scientific cognitive and aesthetic setting.