Kholuy master Vladimir Blinov paints forest scenes with a trademark color scheme--violet and purples over black for the background, and a variety of pine-colored greens for the foliage in the foreground. But each of his compositions has a life and beauty all its own. In this original miniature we see a group of mermaids, with one in particular luring a passing horseman into the water. The scene is painted on a rectangular box with a hinged lid that extends out slightly over the front edge of the piece.
Russian mermaids, or rusalki, are much different than the mermaids that have been depicted in popular American films. They are commonly referred to as wood sprites, and although they usually lived in rivers and lakes, they would often come out of the water and swing on the forest branches. According to legend, they are mischievous, often evil creatures, connected with the unclean force. Described as pale-faced ethereal beauties, they were believed to be the souls of unbaptized or stillborn babies and drowned maidens. However, the peasants of those days had no misconceptions about these lovely beings. They would often entice and drown passing villagers. And if you weren't cautious, a mermaid could surprise you from behind and tickle you to death! The following is an excerpt from the introduction of Pushkin's poem Ruslan and Ludmila that mentions mermaids and gives reference to other supernatural personages in Russian folk belief.
A magic place: there wends his way
The woodsprite, there's a mermaid sitting
In branches, there on trails past knowing
Are tracks of beast you never met;
On chicken feet a hut is set
With neither door nor window showing.
Blinov's composition is teeming with detail and artistic prowess. The design and combination of colors mentioned above combine to create a soft backdrop that is not only pleasing to the eye, but has natural lighting--a characteristic not commonly found in miniature painting. Alternately, that figures in the foreground are painted with light pastels that stand out and immediately attract the eye. The horseman on the right is very stately in his cape, tunic, hat, and riding boots. As he reaches out to the attractive mermaid, he still keeps a hand on his steed's bridle. Sensing danger, the horse is stamping its feet in protest. Four other mermaids stand in the pool, adding their own enticing voices to that of the first. A water mill is visible in the background on the left.
Moderate gold detailing on the reeds of the foreground makes for a subtle yet stunning effect. Gold and silver paint are also used to detail and ornament the figures clothing, especially on the rider's cape and tunic. The composition has a natural ending, and is then framed by gold foliage with silver flowers. This same pattern is repeated on the sides of the piece, but enlarged and with much greater detail. Gold beading connected by silver flowers forms a trellis pattern over the design, perfectly filling the space on the tall sides of the box. The piece stands on hour round feet, and is signed and titled by the artist. A wonderful composition showing a great artist's skill and a common Russian folk belief. (Kholuy)
Materials: paper-mache, black and red lacquer, egg-tempera paint, gold, aluminum.
About Artist Blinov, Vladimir Konstantinovich:
Vladimir Konstantinovich Blinov was born in 1960 in the village Rusinovskaya, Ivanovo region. He currently lives in Kholuy, which was the last of lacquer production centers to organize in Russia. Vladimir graduated from the Kholuy Art School in 1985, his teacher was B.I. Kiseliov. His works have been exhibited since 1989. Blinov has received several awards for his artwork.
The artist works in the traditions of Kholuy lacquer miniature using tempera paints. He is most interesting in painting folk themes. The painter considers the image of miniature to be the most important element, and upon beginning a new piece, he tries to achieve the best interpretation of the theme in the image. A la
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read about Blinov, Vladimir Konstantinovich
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Item Specifications:
- Title: "Mermaid 2000"
- Price: $375.00
- Status: SOLD
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