This composition painted by Fedoskino artist Vlasova is done in the tradition of Gennady Larishev. Larishev's style reflects the unique interaction between village life, humanity, and fantasy. He seems to roll all these elements into one no matter what the painting. This follows this style to a "T" and can be described as painting something that they see and are familiar with. Taking familiarity and turning that into art or literature has made many writers and painters famous. This is just proof that miniaturists are painting with the right frame of mind: they paint what they love, and if they paint what they see, they love life and all it can offer.
Things are looking up and odds seem to be very high for this balalaika playing fellow. He is surrounded by four girls and his trusty dog. During a walk through the village he stops to say hello to a few of his girlfriends. One of them obviously he would like to make more than just a friend and it seems like the two of them are playing a game. He is saying that they need to pay for his services on the balalaika, and she is trying to argue and negotiate a price. Of course he will play for free, but he has to play hard to get before he plays any music. The other girls watch as this handsome lad wraps his love interest around his finger, and visa versa. They only wish they could get as much attention as their friend, but times will soon show them that it was worth the wait as their handsome village prince finds them on a warm spring day.
Oil-based paint is the main medium used to paint this composition. The palette is a bright example of an artist's palette saturated with expressive paints. Each character in the scene is painted with great life and different colors to make them stand out from the earthtone-colored background. The setting is painted to reflect the atmosphere of a true Russian village and the artist does an incredible job of conveying the bucolic context of the ideal. The sky in the background is primered with aluminum paint that is still shining through to give the piece a faint underglow. More glowing wonder comes out of the characters, who are painted over tiny inlays of gold leaf. In some areas they create contours and beautiful plays with light. The gold and aluminum combine to bring out the true intensity of the palette that the artist has used.
The box is made out of paper-mache made in the village of Fedoskino. Black lacquer covers the exterior and red lacquer covers the interior of the box; clear lacquer covers the entire piece in numerous layers and is polished down to a lustrous finish. Gold scrollwork frames the scene and wraps around the sides of the box. The box has a hinge above the composition and rests on a flat bottom. Upon completing the work on this piece the artist writes Fedoskino, 2002, and signs her name at the bottom of the composition. The Fedoskino "troika" insignia can be found stamped to the interior of the lid.
Materials: paper-mache, oil-based paint, gold, aluminum, and lacquer.
Item Specifications:
- Title: "Talk of the Town 2002"
- Price: $480.00
- 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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