April 22, 2006

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                            LUBOK - Russian Folk Art Reinterpreted.

  
  When I lived in DC, retired from the State Department, I sold jewelry of my own design to local museum shops like the Smithsonian and at Eastern Market on Saturdays on Capitol Hill.  

  Half the pleasure was from being around other artists and craftspeople.  One of my favorites was Victor, immigrant from Kiev, artist, creator of lubok prints.  I have three modest ones, one a gift from him "to acknowledge to you that I recognize your artistry, that you are a true artist and not a fabricator of baubles"  (he was sober).  The other two I purchased.

  It's been waiting for a frame for a long time.  I got it all together during the week and it now proudly hangs on a wall, just over a 1940's Brazilian tray, the center of which is iridescent turquoise butterfly wings that just exactly match the color of these flowers. 

  Yum.

                

  Victor explains his medium thus -

  "Lubok is an ancient Russian form of engraving that utilizes carving, printing, and painting - all done exclusively by hand. Historically, Russian Lubok was used as a means of communication [as opposed to high art or icons] within the culture and was utilized in posters and as illustrations in religious and secular books. The Lubok also provided artistic material for Russian theatrical designers. At the beginning of the century, Igor Stravinsky's Petrouchka, hero of the Russian show booth, appeared on the theatre boards in the magnificent sets by Alexander Benois. [Benoit designed for the Ballet Russe, the troop led by the magnificant Serge Diaghilev].

  Lubok was the source of inspiration for many Russian artists regardless of their orientation. Among those working in the ancient Lubok style were many twentieth century artists such as Boris Kustodiev, Kazimor Malevich, Ivan Bilibin, Vladimir Mayakovsky, Mark Chagall and many others. Russian Lubok is treasured above all for its simple beauty, the child-like innocence and charm of its imagery and for its ability to celebrate its manifestations." 

  Victor's other Lubok can be seen, lusted after, coveted, desired, here. Although they don't appear in this online catalog, he used to make wonderful greeting cards ornamented with a lubok....  Oh dear, now I want to go back to DC...

  A truly marvelous website, A Virtual Museum of Russian Primative [sic] shows several mid-19th century lubok.  It was just after this time when the lubok shifted from being a folk art to "art for the people."

  And a discussion of the development of lubki from its origins in the 16th century to the twentieth century can be found, well written and easy to read, here.

  This photograph, to be hung with the three lubok and by one of the Eastern Market regulars, Daniele Piasackary, still awaits its frame .  Soon, soon.....

                              

  pearlbamboo

  copyright  e.p. hodges.

  • 9:10 am
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