In recent decades, there has been a tendency towards the revival and development of centuries-old folk crafts. One of the most interesting crafts of Russian masters is the Polkhov-Maidan painting. Pictures on dishes and household items, the coloring of carapace toys are bright, eye-catching. They say this about them: “It does not fight, it does not break, and whoever buys is surprised.” Indeed, these amazing crafts of folk craftsmen seem to glow from the inside, create a festive atmosphere and cheer up. They are increasingly chosen for an original gift or bought as a souvenir.
Craft history
Ever since the end of the 18th or the middle of the 19th century (these data vary) in the small village of Polkhovsky Maidan, located on the banks of a small river in the Nizhny Novgorod Region, the amazing art of turning dishes and figurines from soft wood of linden and aspen (the benefit, they grew a lot in surrounding places). They were sold at fairs and served as an additional means of income for peasants. Much later, in the 20s of the 20th century, someone decided to decorate the crafts: first with a scorched pattern, then with bright painting. On long winter evenings, the whole family gathered together and whiled away time for the manufacture of unique items: men worked wood, and women and children “enlivened” the toys that appeared with the help of paints. On the dishes under the brush of each craftsman, lush bouquets of flowers blossomed.
The first craftsmen carved all the products by hand. Later, when lathes appeared, the process was greatly simplified, but this did not in any way affect the quality of the goods. Over time, the Polkhov-Maidan painting gained more and more popularity and fame in different parts of Russia.
Create crafts
The process of making souvenirs involves several stages. The figures carved from a tree are well polished. Then the surface is soaked 2-3 times with a solution of potato starch - this is a kind of primer. The processed blank is well dried, after which they begin to prepare for painting.
First, ink is applied to the contour of the desired pattern. Different pen sizes (use 11-13 numbers) allow you to make lines of different widths. The next stage is the artistic painting on wood with paints, often aniline. When choosing them, preference is given to saturated red, green, blue, yellow shades. Moreover, when applying one tone of paint on top of another already existing (this is a tradition of painting), the drawing acquires a special brightness and rainbow.
The finishing touches are coating the product with colorless varnish in several layers (glaze technique), which makes the surface of the product shining. It is brightness and polish-Maidan painting that differs as if radiated from within.
Drawing elements
The art critic N.V. Taranovskaya, speaking about the features of the craft, notes the special decorativeness, originality and splendor of the drawings created by the masters.
Why is Polkhov-Maidan painting so unusual? Pictures appearing on products are distinguished by a variety of large and bright (often red) flowers that have already blossomed or are still in the bud stage. At the same time, several types of drawing are distinguished: flowers with a tip - the black outline is clearly visible, flowers without a tip, variegation - paints are applied with light strokes. Typical is the image of fruits (especially apples) and berries, animals and birds. There is also an urban or rural landscape, a characteristic feature of which is the red dawn.
How to recognize the Maidan Tararushka
Polkhov-Maidan painting is usually well recognizable, as there are a number of signs characteristic only of it.
- The coloring is dominated by a combination of the following colors: yellow and dark blue or cold red and green.
- The most common flower is a rose in different variations, as well as poppy, rosehip, dahlia.
- The priority background for the image of a floral ornament is yellow. The drawing, as a rule, has a clearly defined black outline.
Polkhov-Maidan nesting doll
A special place among the crafts is a traditional Russian souvenir, the design of which also developed certain traditions. The Polkhov-Maidan folk doll is in many ways not similar to the usual dolls from other regions of Russia. Instead of a sundress, it has an oval apron decorated with a green branch with large bright flowers. On the head there is not a scarf tied under the chin, but rather, an original, softly falling cape on the shoulders, from which curled curls are usually knocked out. This is a characteristic detail of the dress of local women. In addition to the features in the coloring, such nesting dolls have a more elongated shape compared to others. They are more like cheerful Russian girls.
Art craft today
In modern conditions, an alternative to artisanal manufacture of products has become a production and art association, opened on the basis of a toy factory in the Voznesenskoye district center, under the name "Polkhov-Maidan Painting." Here, toys and household items are grinded not by hand, but on lathes and in much larger volumes. Basically, these are national souvenirs, which are very popular with buyers and guests of the country, among which are unusual tararush toys (nesting dolls, triples and single horses, whistles), Easter eggs, mushrooms, dishes (salt shakers, sugar bowls, plates, spoons), caskets , boxes. But manual painting is still traditional: Polkhov-Maidan painting does not allow the use of machines in this matter. Professional artists who have undergone special training think over and apply drawings. Naturally, such products are more unified and uniform than the works of artisans, but they are also quite in demand by connoisseurs of folk art.
A special pride of the inhabitants of the area is the Matryoshka Museum. Amazing exhibits are collected here: from single figures symbolizing Russian rural girls to multi-seat matryoshkas, the largest of which includes a series starting with a toy with a match head and ending with a meter doll.
In the villages of the Voznesensky district of the Nizhny Novgorod region: Polkhovsky Maidan, Voznesenskoye, Krutets - there are still family cooperatives engaged in the manufacture of local attractions. Children are taught this from early childhood, and the Polkhov-Maidan painting continues to live.