During the 1950s, a series of postcards devoted to Soviet government awards were issued by the Soviet State Postal System. The medals were shown somewhere on the postcard, and an original painting was the main focus of the postcard, based on the type of medal. It was the Palekh artisans that were chosen to make the sketches for these postcards. From this series, we are pleased to offer not only the original sketch for the "Motherhood" medal postcard, but the postcard as well. It was published in the town of Kalinin and cost 20 kopecks at the time.
This composition was actually painted by two Palekh artists during their studies at the Palekh Art School. Victor Ivanovich Golov and Konstantin Stepanovich Semaykin both graduated at the same time, and this was a joint project between the two budding artists. As such, both of their names are written on the backside of the plate.
The piece is painted on a quarter-inch plaque made of paper-mache. That the plaque was painted with the intention of using for the postcards is clear--the size is the same, and the guidelines for aligning the printing are painted right on the plaque. Bright colors and sharp lines accentuate the subjects of the painting, a young mother holding her child up in the air, both of them happy and content in the socialist state. It is a tribute to the Soviet regime--the Kremlin looms behind the tall, golden wheat stalks.
Vibrant colors accentuate the elements of the scene. Bright gold paint is used for the lavish ornamentation around the composition and around the medal. The edges of the plaque have been left white, which makes a light overall feeling for the piece. Glued on the back of the plaque is a certificate identifying the artists, the title of the piece, the date it was painted, and various other dates, including the date it was released for reprint.
Overall, the piece is in very good condition. Some very minor scratches are visible in the white border outside the composition, but the painting itself is intact. On the back, there is some residue above the certificate from another piece of paper that was temporarily glued there and a strip of masking tape, possible from when it was readied for printing. Regardless, this plaque is a unique piece of history, and an incredible collector's item in that it comes with the postcard it inspired.
Materials: paper-mache, white and black lacquer, egg-tempera paint, gold.
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About Artist Golov, Victor Ivanovich:
Victor Ivanovich Golov was born in the village of Dukhovshchina, Smolensk Region, on March 29, 1925, and died on May 2, 1997 in the village of Palekh, Ivanovo Region. Golov studied at the Palekh Art School from 1947-1952 under I.P. Vakurov, and was in turn a teacher from 1957-1997. Golov began exhibiting in 1954. He became a member of the Artists' Union in 1965, and received the honor of Merited Cultural Worker of the RSFSR in 1980.
Themes of his works usually involved folklore and literature ("The stormy petrel", "A Russian Beauty", "The Black Horse Sivka", "Ural Rowen-tree"). Works are exhibited in the State Museum of Palekh Art and the Museum of Revolution.
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read about Golov, Victor Ivanovich
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Item Specifications:
- Title: "Motherhood 1949"
- Price: $1250.00
- This specific item is available as a single work.
We do not expect to carry this item in the foreseeable future!
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