The street named after Vera Figner in Odesa is now dedicated to Evgen Bukovetsky
Evgen Bukovetsky (1866–1948) was a notable Ukrainian painter who played a significant role in the artistic community of Odesa in the early 20th century. Born and raised in Odesa, he studied at an art school under the guidance of Kyriak Kostandi and Hennadiy Ladyzhensky. After returning from Europe, he settled in Odesa in 1891, and within a year, his painting «At a Wealthy Relative» was showcased in the collection of Pavel Tretyakov, marking a significant recognition of his talent.
His residence at 27 Knyazha Street became a cultural hub where artists, writers, and scholars gathered. Notable visitors included Kyriak Kostandi, Korney Chukovsky, Alexei Tolstoy, Vladimir Filatov, aviator Sergey Utochkin, and historian De Ribas. Bukovetsky himself created a series of portraits of prominent Odesans, earning him the title of the city’s «main portraitist». His likenesses served as prototypes for characters in the works of Ivan Bunin and Alexander Kuprin.
After the 1917 revolution, he remained in Odesa, opened an art studio, and was involved in the establishment of the Kyriak Kostandi Art Society, while teaching at the Odesa Art School from 1937 onward. During World War II, he continued to work and preserve artistic heritage. In 2017, his house at 27 Knyazha became the «Parade of Bukovetsky» museum-photo studio.
