A 1971 Soviet art postcard featuring the grave monument of the prominent Ukrainian writer, poet, and public figure Ivan Franko at the Lychakiv Cemetery in Lviv.
What is shown on the postcard
The postcard captures the monument on the grave of Ivan Franko. The sculptural composition features the bronze figure of a stonecutter (Kamenyar) holding a hammer and breaking a rock. The sculpture is mounted on a high granite pedestal with a gilded inscription in Ukrainian reading “ІВАН ФРАНКО 1856–1916” under a small relief cross. In the foreground, there is a flowerbed border, with the trees of Lychakiv Cemetery visible in the background.
Historical note
Ivan Franko passed away in 1916 and was initially buried in a leased tomb. The monument on his grave was officially unveiled on May 28, 1933. The monument was designed by the renowned Ukrainian sculptor Serhiy Lytvynenko. The imagery of the stonecutter is a direct reference to Franko’s famous revolutionary poem “Kamenyari” (The Stonecutters), symbolizing the struggle against oppression.
Present day
Today, the monument on Ivan Franko’s grave is a designated cultural heritage site of Ukraine, managed under the Lychakiv Cemetery State History and Culture Museum-Preserve. The memorial is well-preserved and remains one of the most visited locations in the historic necropolis.
Location (map)
Address: 33 Mechnykova St, Lviv, Lviv Oblast, Ukraine
Coordinates: 49.832742, 24.054415
(Google Maps)
Coordinate source: Grave of Ivan Franko at Lychakiv Cemetery in Lviv.
Questions and answers
- Where exactly in Lviv is this monument located? The monument is located on the grave of Ivan Franko at the Lychakiv Cemetery (field No. 2).
- Who sculpted the monument? The grave monument was created in 1933 by the Ukrainian sculptor Serhiy Lytvynenko.
- What is the symbolism behind the sculpture? The sculpture depicts a stonecutter breaking a rock, representing Ivan Franko’s famous poem “Kamenyari” (The Stonecutters).
See also
The «Old Postcards» archive includes other views of Lviv from 1971.
