Katalog vystavki Iskusstvo Palekha [Palekh Art: Exhibition Catalog]

Moscow: Vsekokhudozhnik, 1932. 19 pages. Text in Russian. First edition, compiled by V. M. Vasilenko. One of 1,000 copies. As of April 2024, OCLC locates two copies of the first and second editions at the Getty Research Institute and Stockholm University.<br /> <br /> Located 360 kilometers east of Moscow, the town of Palekh is renowned for its transformation from a center of traditional icon painting to a bastion of innovative lacquered papier-mâché artistry. This shift began in earnest in 1922 when Ivan I. Golikov adapted icon painting techniques to decorate a black papier-mâché box, a revelation that led to the formation of the Artel of Ancient Painting in 1924. This collective of artists revitalized the local craft tradition by integrating folk motifs and revolutionary themes into their works, which quickly garnered national recognition. By 1935, the establishment of the State Museum of Palekh Arts and the renaming of the Artel to the Association of Palekh Artists underscored the community's artistic achievements. This 1932 exhibition catalog captures a pivotal moment in Palekh's artistic evolution, showcasing the unique blend of historical craftsmanship and contemporary influences that characterized its art during this transformative period.