Khokhloma - what is it? First of all, this is an old Russian folk craft. Khokhloma painting, gold Khokhloma, an extensive layer of Russian culture. The symbol of painting in the style of Khokhloma is the fiery Firebird, a fabulous character. The capital of the fishery is the city of Semenov, located north of Nizhny Novgorod. In contrast to the Gzhel art production, which combines 27 villages and villages in one "bush", Khokhloma was concentrated in one place. Therefore, its development lasted long enough. The artistic component of the craft also mattered, since talented masters were not often found, and there was no training as such.
History of Golden Khokhloma
Khokhloma art craft is rooted in the late 17th century, during the heyday of icon painting. The period of settlement of Novgorod lands by Old Believers who did not accept the church reform of Patriarch Nikon coincided with the emergence of new ways of gilding icons. It was in the Nizhny Novgorod lands, villages and villages that they learned to paint icons with gold, but without the use of precious metal. Wooden salaries of icons were sprinkled with silver, triturated with dust, then covered with a layer of linseed oil and put in the oven. The silver plating miraculously turned into sparkling gold. Technologies of that time were not provided with additional tools to facilitate the process; everything was done manually. Some masters somehow adapted, came up with simple tools to help themselves, but on the whole, the Khokhloma painting was fully provided only with manual labor. The main tasks of the production were turning, which required a certain qualification. Some craftsmen turned the blanks, primed and burned them by others, and painted the third. But in any case, the results of joint work were good and production flourished.
The rise of high art
So on the Volga appeared gold painting Khokhloma. From icons, they quickly moved to the production of dishes made of wood, covered with gold drawings. There was not enough silver, and it was replaced with tin. The drawings did not become worse, on the contrary, the painting acquired a noble matte shade, and after polishing the paint began to sparkle like the sun. Semenov artists began to unite in artels, painting "under the Khokhloma" has become widely known far beyond the borders of the Nizhny Novgorod province. Merchants came one by one, ordered masters to painted wooden utensils in huge batches, and fishing began to develop at a rapid pace.
At first, spoons and scoops were cut from linden and painted with Khokhloma patterns. Grateful descendants even erected a monument to Semyon-Spoonbill as a tribute to the masters and artists of that time. Craftsmen worked tirelessly, brought the Nizhny Novgorod dishes and successfully sold them at the great Makaryevsky marketplace, the most famous Russian fair. The dishes reached Moscow. In the capital of Russia at that time, foreign representatives of merchants, Germans, French, and British were constantly present. They immediately drew attention to unusual Khokhloma goods.
Khokhloma - what is it from the point of view of the world community?
In the mid-19th century, Khokhloma painting on dishes, furniture and clothes became known abroad. The World Exhibition in Paris, held in 1889, paved the way for Golden Khokhloma around the world. Khokhloma painting was exported in a wide flow. The markets of Western Europe, Southeast Asia, India, China, and later the North American continent traded Russian handicrafts.
The high demand for products of the Trans-Volga masters became an incentive for the further development of Golden Khokhloma. The assortment of production has grown many times, in addition to spoons, dishes and plates, barrels, lids for spices, salt shakers, various suppliers, glasses and mugs were produced. The so-called brothers were especially appreciated in the West - huge vessels in the shape of a boat with a dozen ladles. The name spoke for itself, this dish was intended for a fraternal feast. The festive theme has always accompanied Khokhloma products. And the inexhaustible source of stories and themes for them is all of Russia. Khokhloma, however, is inextricably linked with the source itself and with its history.
Dishes and more
In addition to dishes, large series were produced household items: caskets, snuff boxes, small furniture, terraces, cabinets, tables and benches. Khokhloma gold could be ordered, it cost an order of magnitude more expensive, but the price did not bother anyone. By the end of the 19th century, Khokhloma began to rise in price, since its production was noticeably more complicated. Plant ornaments appeared that continued the original traditions, but at the same time carried the special natural style of artistic writing, which distinguishes Khokhloma. Pictures made in those days by enthusiastic artists, sketches and sketches confirm the development of new trends in the art of Khokhloma painting.
Khokhloma artifacts were noticeably enlarged, they were painted already in the "curls" style, with gold leaves and flowers, in the style of a woman’s scarf, when the ornament consists of several fragments merging into a single image. One of the most respected Khokhloma drawings was "grass writing", and in the first half of the 20th century, artists created the "Khokhloma ornament." So there was a classic style. The color of the picture was even more complicated, the strokes became thinner, and the plot acquired signs of certainty. The artistic style called "Khokhloma", the pictures and sketches of which confirm this, continued its development. Then in the middle zone of Russia began to appear art forms similar to the Khokhloma painting, Fedoskino miniatures and Zhostovo trays. A little later, the factories for the production of Gzhel ceramic dishes started operating, which soon became as popular as the Khokhloma wooden. Russian art crafts have successfully developed, Gzhel, Khokhloma, Zhostovo, Fedoskino - this is not a complete list of crafts that can be compared with high art.
Technics
Khokhloma art is a rather complicated process, coupled with many technical subtleties. It is not enough to color the product correctly - its shape and parameters must also be perfect. If the master decided to carve a brother in the form of a swan from a tree and paint it in the style of golden Khokhloma, then first of all the form obtained should repeat all the grace of a noble bird, and its neck must certainly be with the “swan” bend that we observe in nature.
Khokhloma - what is it from a technical point of view? Guided by the rule of authenticity of the product, its compliance with certain canons of a highly artistic level, the specialists of Khokhloma Painting CJSC derived a formula for the quality of their products, which formed the basis for the production of Khokhloma products. Thus, all the technological processes at the enterprise are subject not to the requirements of the market, which stimulate in-line production, but to the laws of the art market, oriented to a customer who has taste. This leadership policy has already borne fruit, orders began to come not from souvenir shops, but from well-known art salons and galleries.
The process of making art products in the style of Khokhloma is a complex technological chain. Wood is used only in hard wood, with preference being given to linden, as the most plastic and responsive material. The material goes through the stage of natural drying in the open air for one year, then the logs and komli are dissolved into blanks, which are dried for another three months. After that, the wood is already suitable for machining on lathes. Selected pieces are used to make nesting dolls, large vases are made from solid logs. Spoon wood is suitable for spoons and ladles; it is quite easy to cut and does not crack.
The turned and cut blanks are called “linen”, before painting this “linen” is dried again, already at a temperature of about 100 degrees. After this, the products are primed and reloaded into a furnace heated to 120 degrees. Then the workpieces are ground, chips and potholes on the surface are putty and covered with a thin layer of drying oil. Shortly before complete drying, the preform is coated with aluminum powder and triturated so that the entire surface is evenly coated. Then silver-matte cups, spoons and saucers, vases and bowls go to the artists for the final decoration - Khokhloma art painting.
After painting, the product is varnished three times, with intermediate heating to 130 degrees. At the same time, the aluminum coating acquires a golden hue, the product is ready for packaging and shipping.
Types of painting
In the 18th century, Khokhloma painting reached its climax, the demand for art products was growing, and the Nizhny Novgorod masters at that time were already at the top of their work. It was then that the two main types of painting of Golden Khokhloma took shape - “horseback” and “background”.
Khokhloma, the patterns of which were painted in the manner of "horse" painting, is a drawing on a golden field, executed in black and red colors. The artist draws delicate strokes with an openwork drawing, while following any one of the following styles:
- "Gingerbread" - a stylized image of the sun, enclosed in a geometric figure, square, rhombus or faceted circle. At first glance, the method was simple, but it was impossible to take your eyes off the solar circle framed by curly rays, the great luminary so organically combined with the frames surrounding it.
- "Herbalist" - a grassy ornament, drawing sedge of coastal or meadow grass.
- "Leaf, under the berry" - a painting with many leaves and berries, flowers and stems, intricately intertwined with each other.
In contrast to the “horseback”, Khokhloma, whose patterns were applied with gold on a red or black base, was considered “background”. The most interesting kind of painting on the background is "kudrina", which is a stylized image of leaves and flowers. Repeating curly curls turning into bizarre patterns, flowers, foliage and all kinds of berries, garden and forest. This painting style is also notable for the wide use of contour strokes in the drawing, which favorably emphasize individual details.
Catalogs
From the middle of the 20th century, Khokhloma painting began to be systematized, catalogs with the most interesting copies were printed, and the best were awarded a certificate. The works of masters-artists in the style of "Khokhloma", photos and sketches of which were printed in the press, became participants in various contests and exhibitions. Authors of art products received prizes and prizes for their work. At such exhibitions, everyone could buy a product made in an artistic manner called "Khokhloma." A memory photo with the master manufacturer was made right there. For a long time later, a beautiful varnished little thing pleased its owner.
Khokhloma through the eyes of a child
In Soviet times, kindergartens, kindergartens and even nurseries received furniture made in the style of Khokhloma painting. And although this artistic style has always been considered an “adult,” the children sincerely rejoiced at every table painted by the artist. Of course, this was not manual work, the products were painted in a furniture factory using the screen printing method. But the impression of the high art of Khokhloma painting was present, and it pleased the children. Together with the kids, their parents rejoiced. Thus, children's Khokhloma was no worse than an "adult".
Theme for school essays
Training programs are diverse. Khokhloma - what is it, from the point of view of the teacher? In schools in Moscow and the Moscow Region, as well as in other Russian cities, the topic of Russian folk art crafts is included in the training programs, where Khokhloma painting is in the first place. Its centuries-old history and worldwide fame give students the opportunity to express their personal opinion, put it on paper and get an assessment. It can be a whole essay on a topic or a short story. Khokhloma as an art continues to develop successfully, it is quite worthy of the attention of high school students. However, junior classes can also participate in debates.
Khokhloma in the song genre
Fine art is often combined with other categories of creativity. The art of Khokhloma painting is no exception. The song "Khokhloma" has long gained popularity. It is performed by singers and singers, a choir and individual soloists. The melody is beautiful, verses are also soulful, written from the heart. The song "Khokhloma" more than once took pride of place at competitions.