Russia in a Box by Andrew L Jenks

Russia in a Box by Andrew L Jenks

What did it mean to be Russian as the imperial era gave way to Soviet rule? Andrew Jenks turns to a unique art form produced in the village of Palekh to investigate how artists and craftsmen helped to reshape Russian national identity. Russia in a Box follows the development of Palekh art over two centuries as it adapted to dramatic changes in the Russian nation. As early as the sixteenth century, the peasant "masters" of Palekh painted religious icons. It was not until Russia's victory over Napoleon in 1814, however, that the village gained widespread recognition for its artistic contributions. That same year, the poet Goethe's discovery of the works of Palekh artists and craftsmen spurred interest in preserving the sacred art. The religious icons produced by Palekh masters in the nineteenth century became a source of Russian national pride. By the 1880s, some artists began to foresee their future as secular artists—a trend that was ensured by the Bolshevik Revolution. Tolerated and sometimes even encouraged by the new regime, the Palekh artists began to create finely decorated lacquered boxes that portray themes from fairy tales and idealized Russian history in exquisite miniatures. A new medium with new subject matter, these lacquered boxes became a new symbol of Russian identity during the 1920s. Palekh art endured varying levels of acceptance, denial, state control, and reliance on market-driven forces. What began as the art form of religious iconic painting, enduring for more than two centuries, was abruptly changed by the revolutionaries. Throughout the twentieth century the fate of Palekh art remained in question as Russia's political and cultural entities struggled for dominance. Ultimately capitalism and the Palekhian masters were victorious, and the famed lacquer boxes continue to be a source of Russian identity and pride.

Jenks deftly identifies pivotal moments in Palekh's history, skillfully crafting them into a smoothly flowing narrative about the improbably resilience of this peasant art

* The Russian Review *

An important and fascinating study of the complex interactions of politics, art, and the market in shaping national identity.

* Journal of Modern History *

Jenks describes Palekh with cogency, intelligence and humour, and his beautifully illustrated book has significant new things to say about the functioning of Soviet nationalism on the ground.

* TLS *

Andrew L. Jenks is Assistant Professor of History at Niagara University.

SKU	Nicht verfügbar
ISBN 13	9780875803395
ISBN 10	0875803393
Titel	Russia in a Box
Autor	Andrew L Jenks
Serie	Niu Series In Slavic East European And Eurasian Studies
Buchzustand	Nicht verfügbar
Verlag	Cornell University Press
Erscheinungsjahr	2005-07-12
Seitenanzahl	275
Hinweis auf dem Einband	Die Abbildung des Buches dient nur Illustrationszwecken, die tatsächliche Bindung, das Cover und die Auflage können sich davon unterscheiden.
Hinweis	Nicht verfügbar