This famous composition entitled "At the Well" was painted in the 1860s at the renowned Lukutins factory. An idealistic depiction of Ukrainian life, the box was inspired by Gogol's "Dikanka" cycle. Published in 1831 and 1832 when the author was only twenty-two and twenty-three, the cycle penetrated upper class society and established Gogol as a new voice and strong young talent. The stories were told from the perspective of a Ukrainian bee keeper, in the tradition of oral histories, told at evening gatherings in the Ukrainian countryside. The volumes were dynamic, displaying Gogol's imagination, intellect and humor, as well as his underlying preoccupation with transcendental issues.
In the late 1800's the Lukutins factory was internationally recognized as a leader in lacquer ware. It had already been producing the finest quality paper-mache items when this box was painted. A photograph of the identical Lukutins stamp found on the underside of this box's lid can be found in the book  "MASTERPIECES OF RUSSIAN FOLK ART. LACQUERED MINIATURES. FEDOSKINO" by N. Krestovskaya, on page 118. The "A" in the emblem refers to the reign of Emperor Alexander II.
Oil-based paint is the medium used to paint this composition. An aluminum base coat was applied to the lid of the box, to add glowing natural light to the piece. The artist's pallet has a green gold overtone, giving the entire scene a warm old world charm. The landscape is detailed with forest green and white flora. The silhouette of autumn trees in the distance contrast subtly with a hazy golden horizon. The sky grows clear blue high in the sky.
The subjects in this composition are simple folk, dressed in white peasant shirts. The man stands at the fence constructed from woven branches, which surrounds his thatch roofed cottage. He has just returned from the fields, tools still in hand. The woman is barefoot, flowers in her scarf. She dips her wooden bucket into the deep well, collecting water for washing. The sun is low in the sky, and soon it will be time for bed.
This box is constructed out of paper-mache made in the Lukutins Factory. Black lacquer covers the exterior and red lacquer covers the interior. The composition has very slight cracking from its 140+ years in existence, which does not detract from its value. These imperfections serve to accurately show the age and durability in the craftsmanship from that time. The lacquer applied to the box has evaporated, to leave a slightly rough surface to the box. The box's previous owner apparently used it for utilitarian purposes, as there is some slight gouging on the underside of the lid. The box has a hinge above the composition and rests on a flat bottom. Upon completing the work on this piece the artist stamped the Lukutin insignia on the underside of the lid.
This is a living piece of history, the product of someone's delicate hand and creative eye, well preserved for future generations to enjoy.
Materials: paper-mache, oil-based paint, aluminum, and lacquer.
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About Artist Anonymous, :
In the world of art some of the greatest paintings, sculptures, and literary works have not been signed by the artists, sculptors, or writers who completed them. If Anonymous were a name of a real person he/she would go down as the most well rounded artist, writer, and poet in history. These unsung people, having contributed to the world of art over the years, have chosen to stay anonymous for various reasons. Whatever reasons they may be these artists have shown there is more to the world art than gaining notoriety. The idea of creating art for art's sake is what draws artists to want to create beauty. When an artist creates something truly beautiful, no matter if it is signed or not, that
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Item Specifications:
- Title: "At the Well 1863"
- Price: $1500.00
- Status: SOLD
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