Chekhov’s Silhouette: The writer’s prose and drama in the reception of Yu. I. Aykhenvald

The article analyzes special characteristics of how A. P. Chekhov's works and letters were perceived in the criticism of Yu. I. Aykhenvald, and traces some of the changes he made to his essays about the writer when republishing them. In the course of the analysis the critic's works on Chekhov were systematized. It was possible to come to the conclusion that Aykhenvald's method, which was based on an impressionistic approach to the work, was very suitable for interpreting Chekhov's texts, many of which contain features of this style. The critic defined the writer as a "lyricist-realist", highlighted motifs in prose and dramaturgy, attached great importance to the emotions and moods in his texts. He perceived Chekhov as a recognized classic of the Russian literature and at the same time as a writer who ushered the era of modernism; noted the ahistorical nature, timelessness of many of Chekhov's characters, their experiences and thoughts. At the same time, the critic's approach was impaired by being one-sided and did not allow to appreciate the satirical side of the writer's works. In exile, Aykhenvald's articles about Chekhov were largely of an anniversary and memorial nature, or featured reviews of books about the writer, his letters; the exception was the article "Volodya and Mitya". Republishing the 3rd issue of the collection "Silhouettes of Russian writers" in exile, the critic included in it all the essays about Chekhov previously published in other issues, and edited them.