Polhov-Maidanskaya painting. Art Painting on Wood

In recent decades, there has been a trend 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 the dishes and household items, coloring of toys-tararushkas bright, attracting their views. They say about them: "It does not break, it does not break down, but who will buy - 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.

History of the origin of the craft

Since the end of the XVIIIth or the middle of the XIX century (these data vary) in the small village of Polhovsky Maidan, located on the bank of a small river in the Nizhny Novgorod region, an amazing art of grinding utensils and figurines from the softwood of linden and aspen (good, many of them grew Surrounding places). They were sold at fairs and served as an additional means of income for the peasants. Much later, in the 20-ies of the XX century, someone decided to decorate the crafts: first a scorched drawing, then a bright painting. On long winter evenings the whole family gathered together and wasted time for making unique items: men were working wood, and women and children "revived" the appeared toys with the help of paints. On the dishes, under the brush of each craftsman, lush bouquets of flowers blossomed.

The first masters cut all the products by hand. Later, when lathes appeared, the process became much simpler, but this in no way affected the quality of the goods. With the passage of time, Polhov-Maidanskaya painting became more and more popular and famous in different parts of Russia.

Crafting

The process of making souvenirs includes several stages. Cut out from the tree figurines well polished. Then the surface is impregnated 2-3 times with a solution of potato starch - this is a kind of primer. The processed billet is dried well, and then begins to prepare for painting.

First, the contour of the desired pattern is applied in ink. Different pen sizes (using 11-13 numbers) allow you to make lines of different widths. The next stage - artistic painting on wood paints, more often aniline. At their selection the preference is given to the saturated red, green, blue, yellow shades. And when applying one color of paint over the already existing another (this is the tradition of painting) the picture acquires a special brightness and iridescence.

The finishing touches - covering the product with a colorless varnish in several layers (a technique of glaze), which makes the surface of the product radiant. It is the brightness and radiance from the inside that distinguish polkhov-maidanskaya painting.

Picture elements

Art critic N. V. Taranovskaya, speaking about the peculiarities of the craft, notes the special decorativeness, uniqueness and splendor of the drawings created by the masters.

What is so unusual polkhov-maidanskaya painting? The pictures appearing on the products differ in the variety of large and bright (often red) flowers already bloomed or still in the bud stage. In this case, several types of drawing patterns are distinguished: flowers with a tip - the black contour is clearly visible, the flowers are without a tip, variegation - the colors are superimposed with light strokes. Typical is the image of fruits (especially apples) and berries, animals and birds. There is also an urban or rural landscape, the characteristic feature of which was the red dawn.

How to recognize Maidan Taras

Polkhov-Maidanskaya painting is usually well recognizable, as there are a number of signs characteristic only for it.

1. The coloring is dominated by a combination of the following colors: yellow and dark blue or cold red and green.
2. The most common flower - a rose in different variations, as well as poppy, dog rose, dahlia.
3. Priority background for the image of a plant ornament is yellow. The drawing, as a rule, has a clearly outlined black contour.

Polhov-Maidan Matryoshka

A special place among crafts is a traditional Russian souvenir, in the design of which certain traditions have also developed. The Polhov-Maidan folk doll in many respects is not similar to all the usual matryoshka doll from other regions of Russia. Instead of a sarafan on her oval apron, adorned with a green branch with large bright colors. On his head is not a handkerchief tied under his chin, but rather, an original, softly falling over his shoulders cape, from under which curly curls are usually beaten out. This is a characteristic detail of the dressing of local women. In addition to the features in the coloring, these nested dolls have a more elongated shape than others. They are more like cheerful Russian girls.

Artistic craft today

In modern conditions, the production and art association, opened on the basis of a toy factory in the district center of Voznesenskoye, under the name of "Polhov-Maydanskaya painting", became an alternative to the artisanal manufacture of products. Here, toys and household items are not grinded by hand, but on lathes and in much larger volumes. In general, these are national souvenirs, which are very popular with buyers and guests of the country, including unusual toys (such as nesting dolls, triplets and single horses, whistles), Easter eggs, mushrooms, crockery (saltcellars, sugar bowls, plates, spoons), caskets , Boxes. But still the traditional coloring remains: the Polhov-Maidan painting does not allow the use of cars in this business. Think and apply drawings professional artists who have received special training. Naturally, such products are more uniform and monotonous than the works of craftsmen, but they are also in demand by connoisseurs of folk art.

A special pride of the residents of the district is the Matryoshka Museum. Here you will find amazing exhibits: from single figures, symbolizing Russian rural girls, to multi-matry dolls, the largest of which includes a series beginning with a toy with a match head and ending with a meter doll.

In the villages of Voznesensky district of the Nizhny Novgorod region: Polhovsky Maydan, Voznesenskoye, Krutets - there are still family artels engaged in the production of local attractions. Children are taught this from early childhood, and Polhov-Maidan painting continues to live.