Русский ремесленник

Scenes of tales and legends in the art of Palekh

Casket "Pushkin"
Casket "Pushkin" (1949), Honored Artist of the RSFSR AV Borunov (b. 1920) is decorated with miniatures on the theme of four stories and an introduction to the poem "Ruslan and Ludmila. Depicted by the artist form an ancient Russian casket-Teremok with hip lid prompted the picturesque character design. This is truly a precious casket of tales: it seems as if you tilt the lid, and inside the shed is a fabulous speech.
On the cover depicted the characters of the prologue "We Lukomorya oak podzolized: terrible devil in the lumen of ghostly green cave, shaggy Baba-Yaga, mighty warriors, emerging from the sea. But the main protagonist - the poet himself.
Under a spreading oak tree sits in a pensive pose Pushkin. The artist conveys portrait features, and at the same time creates an image of a conditioned, fantastic. This is indicated by a romantic clothes, fantastic surroundings. Heroes prologue as it appeared from the depths of a black background, as if hovering in the imagination of the poet.
In the casket Borunova ornament covers the rounded slopes of the network covers the finest curly lines. It is organically woven into the scene-painting and picture frames golden cockerel, golden fish, the barrel into the waves, the crystal coffin dead princess. Slopes of a peculiar fancy screen saver to the picturesque "text" of fairy tales on the walls of the casket.
The artist is not trying to show the development of the plot. In choosing one line of narration in the casket wall mural on the theme "Tales of the Dead Princess and Seven Knights" Borunov tells the story of the princess and prince of Elisha.
Avoiding dramatically intense scenes, the artist has a story slowly, slowly, emphasizing the lyrical episodes. Thus, in one scene, he vividly conveys appeal of Prince for help to nature - a flower, growing pas grief, which is a crystal coffin.
Borunov attaches great importance to the miniatures in the landscape. Lively sense of nature, combined with the subtle understanding of the spirit of fairy tales, helps the artist to create an image of the mighty oak - the center of the magic world Lukomorya and spreading ate in "The Tale of Tsar Saltan. The artist sees in every tree, flower fairy image, reveals in them a special poetic content.
Paleshane reflected in his works the world of Russian epics, folk songs and legends. Often artists turn to the various literary works: prose of Gogol ( "Chichikov at Manilov" VM Salabaiova, "Bird-three" AA Kotuhinoy), to tales Bazhova ( "Stone Flower" TI Zubkov) etc.

"The bird-troika"
Gogol's image of a bird-troika captures in miniature the People's Artist of the RSFSR State Prize AA Kotuhinoy (b. 1915). Already in the literature trio became a symbol of Russian prowess, ease, indomitable rapid movement.
Kotuhina gives way elation. Three seems a vision, suddenly emerged in a reddish-golden clouds.
The main reception, which uses the artist - a thin gold bar, flexible line. Elastic juicy contour depicts the silhouettes of powerful horses, gold bars streamed their manes. Twinkling scrollwork creates a halo around the galloping troika. Khaimah ornament, running on the edge of the box, echoed exciting movement of horses.
Dynamic composition, masterly design, combining the finest needlework of strokes and flexibility of juicy lines, make this work Kotuhinoy close works IIGolikov.
In 1930, writer EF Vikhrev, a great friend of Palekh masters, wrote: "... among the third generation of Palekh has two girls. For three hundred years of existence, and the iconographic art of Palekh is the first case study palekh's painting." One of them was the AL Kotuhina, the other - TI Zubkov, a master of lyrical compositions.

Snow Maiden
The artist but leaves aside and literary themes. "Snow Maiden" by Alexander Ostrovsky - pure and poetic fairy tale - it carries on only a dramatic complication of the plot, but also the richness of emotional nuances.
On the sides and top of the elongated box it has miniatures representing the various episodes of fairy tales. On the front wall of the box in the image combined the two scenes, sharply different in mood. In one part of a girl spinning in the dance against the backdrop of the rich chorus, decorated towers. On the other hand can see a dilapidated hut Bobylev, before which are the main actors. Carefree girl's dance is opposed to the tragic scene and explain Mizgir Kupava. The main characters of fairy tales can be found accurately.

Their expressive poses and gestures accurately reveal the content of the episode.
In the creation of images plays an important role color. Indifferent to the whole Snegurochka detached sitting at a spinning wheel, wasps icy coldness highlighted blue dress. Trade guest "Mizgir dressed in rich crimson cloak and a light shirt, Lelia as if the sun itself was painted a warm yellowish-pink hues.
Colors in Zubkova amazingly generous and bright, miniature set shimmer shades. Scarlet, blue, orange, yellow stains on clothes lush green backdrop enhanced contrast sounding black background.
Holiday coloring helps to create an atmosphere of national celebration, a meeting light Yarily.

Military Subjects in the art of Palekh

New subjects gave paleshanam Great Patriotic War. Its reverberations were heard in the art of Palekh and in the postwar years. Each artist was to address the war theme on his way, turning to the symbolic images, reaching heights of artistic synthesis, or depicting a specific event.

The peculiar development of military themes found LM Kurkin (b. 1916). It is "a cart" (1948) as it combined two eras: the Civil War - in the form of the legendary carts and the recent battle over who was its author.

The artist used found Golikov way troika, depicting a flying pa full speed carts. But in running these horses no golikovskoy calls and merry conviviality, a desperate rush, extreme tension in chudyatsya flashing hooves, in sharp bends necks.

The rapid movement unfolds on a diagonal from the depths of the background. Bent low figures of the Red Army, sharp flash of red flame reinforce the drama of the moment.

But a miniature reality is intertwined with the fantastic.

We sincerely believe that a carriage will rush through the fire and explosions unscathed, because it harnessed the magic Palekh horses.
Job Kurkina marked traits characteristic of the art of the late 40's - early 50-ies. At this time, the artists sometimes forget about the conventions, ornamental miniatures, its special poetic. In an effort to bring credibility, vitality in his works, the master often attracted by an imitation of easel painting. In "a cart" image with unnecessary details likelihood (charred wood, loose wheel, thick clouds of black and gray smoke) add songs raid "picture".
Peculiar artistic language of Palekh Art loses some of its features. Near fine lossirovochnym letter layers appear dense layers of paint, the overlay of Hull. Color loses its brightness, sometimes becomes dull and expressionless.

Wall Paintings

Paleshane often go to the wall painting, decorating its interiors. In this area of contemporary artists of Palekh has gained experience in the 1930's. They created the Leningrad Palace of Pioneers them. Zhdanov bright, festive "Room of fairy tales."
Variants of the thumbnail paintings of the premises, kept in the Russian Museum, shows a lively, colorful world of fairy tale characters, pleasing more than one generation of children.
Art of Palekh extensively penetrates into life: paleshane draw up plays and illustrated books, restore monuments and mural paintings painted contemporary public buildings. Palekh looking for new ways in art. He, like a living organism that grows and develops.