“Miners of spirit”: Russian Ibsenism through the prism of northern artnouveau

A historical context of perception of Norwegian play writer's work is examined in the article. Among multiple factors enhancing his popularity the author highlights the role played by the local-geographical “Northern” dominant. A set of historical and situational circumstances, which influenced the interpretation of Ibsen' art sub specie Nordi, was also singled out as an important tool of popularization. Among historical factors are colonization of the Russian North and of the borderlands between Russia and Norway; discovery of Northern mythology and folklore; Declaration of Independence of Norway in 1905 and establishment of diplomatic relations. The author reveals the meaning of the “North” concept and derivative idioms (“Northern art nouveau”, “Northern artists”, “Northern Nietz”, “Scandinavian genius”) that became cliché in the discursive field where appropriation of Ibsen's art took place.