THE CONCEPT OF THE ANIMALISTIC IMAGE IN RUSSIAN AND EUROPEAN ART HISTORY. A MODERN OUTLOOK ON THE THE GENRE ISSUES

The article dwells on animalistic art in the works of European and Russian researchers. It highlights the features of this phenomenon in culture, which has specific pictorial and expressive qualities, features of the interpretation of the animalistic image. This article also determines the researchers' priorities in the choice of historical periods, those in which the animalistic image has established itself as a significant art and had an impact on the subsequent development of the genre. It contains the analysis of three thematic aspects related to the human's attitude to the animal world (moral issues), the history of world animalism, and the specifics of animalistic depiction as well. Researchers believe that the fundamental moral principle of the natural world preservation, which society is concerned about, raises animalistic art up to a new significant level, contributing to the comprehension of the old philosophical idea of man's place in the natural organic world and his relationship with wildlife. Critics conduct a broad analysis of ancient animalism, considering the concept of an image in the era of mythological consciousness when the animal image was full of great significance and meaning. In this regard, the artistic and theoretical views of artists and the assessment of their priority directions in creativity are indicative. The authors also pay attention to the animalism of the New Age, tracing the changes that took place in the 20th century in the views of the natural world. It's also emphasized that changes affected all areas of knowledge and were introduced into the art of modern performance. All these processes, which have shaped the modern philosophical concept of the animalistic image in the era of ecological consciousness, identifying the features of the genre, determine the relevance of the article and help in the prospect of new research.