The capital of Russia is rich in museums. The museum of folk graphics enjoys great popularity among connoisseurs of folk art. The institution opened its doors in the spring of 1992. The subjects of the presented expositions are devoted to the art traditional for Russia - printed popular print. Visitors can see not only unique ancient exhibits, but also promising works by contemporary authors.
History of popular painting
The first Russian lubok appeared approximately in the 16-17th centuries. The birth of a new form of fine art was facilitated by the invention of engraving. Further improvement of the printing business contributed to the development of popular print, as it allowed mass copying of color pictures. Modern museums are trying to instill in modern people a love of their culture.
The popular print painting quickly turned into a traditional form of performing simple folk engravings and was a kind of illustrated folk alphabet. Most of the common people of that time were illiterate. Poor education did not allow to join the world of books, while bright color images illustrating various life stories quickly fell to the taste of ordinary people. The Moscow Museum of Folk Graphics skillfully collected all the significant historical crafts.
Popular painting: subject
Engravings performed not only an entertaining function, but also cognitive, and to some extent educational. The theme of popular prints was incredibly broad - from religious subjects to historical and political ones. Often, many works were a collection of pictures under a common name or connected by one plot. In addition to the image itself, popular print sheets often had explanatory inscriptions that help to better understand the essence of the drawing. Printed illustrations were relatively cheap and available to a wide range of people.
In itself, a similar form of an illustrated story with explanatory inscriptions was widespread not only in Russia, but also in other states of the East and West. But only in the Slavic countries did people like this form of painting greatly and became a traditional form of creativity. Subsequently, Lubok even won international sympathy. Throughout its existence, popular painting has fought against human vices, ridiculed them and called for a decent lifestyle. The illustrations served as a kind of book or newspaper of the time. The Museum of Folk Graphics has gathered all these masterpieces of handicraft into a single exposition.
Universal recognition
Meanwhile, for a long time lubok was not recognized as a full-fledged form of painting. The label of marginal art was firmly stuck to it, because of which eminent artists did not take this trend of folk art seriously.
On engravings, characters of Russian epics were often drawn, heroes of the knightly era were depicted. Bright bastworks were very popular among the general population and were found not only in poor peasant houses, but also in rich nobleman's mansions.
Currently, the population has an interest in studying the history of folk art, including popular print painting. Museums work very often on holidays for free.
To date, the museum is located just in those places where the popular craft flourished at one time, which was truly Moscow art. Even in the names of places and streets there are references to those times: Bolshaya and Malaya Lubyanka, Pechatnikov Lane, Lubyanka Square.
Folk art within the museum
The museum, therefore, is, as the staff themselves say, a kind of repository of the history of the names of city streets, on which the center of popular art was concentrated.
The houses on Pechatnikov Lane were inhabited by printers and woodcutters.
The Temple of the Assumption of the Virgin in Pechatniki was erected with funds raised from the sale of popular prints. On the fence of another church, the “Holy Life-Giving Trinity in the Sheets”, luboks for sale were hung.
The Museum of Popular Graphics is engaged in collecting popular popular prints with the aim of preserving the cultural heritage of the past and reviving the original folk crafts.
The main exposition of the museum is based on the personal collection of the museum director V. Penzin, which has been expanded through the reconstruction of historical engravings and the works of modern masters.
Engravings and other exhibits
The museum also presents interesting examples of engraving art of the 19th century, made by skilled craftsmen A. Venetsianov and I. Trebnev.
Modern laborers managed to reconstruct the “Bible for the poor” (by V. Koren), which was donated to Pope John Paul II.
This work is a special work in the museum and includes a whole collection of paintings from 36 subjects. Many engravings from this work were once exhibited in different cities around the world.
The museum is engaged in active exhibition activities not only in its halls, but also in the regions of Russia, as well as abroad. For the entire time the museum has held more than six hundred exhibitions, over 30 of which are outside our country. Popular art is typical for many Slavic peoples, and such exhibitions contribute to a greater rapprochement of countries and unity of their peoples.
Moving around the world
The Moscow Museum of Folk Graphics, at the invitation of other cities and countries, leaves with its exhibits. You can visit museums on holidays for free.
At the institution a children's art school is open. Various workshops are regularly held for children of different ages, where the kids learn how to draw popular prints, and also play and sing.
Of the modern works presented in the museum, one can distinguish a collection dedicated to the fight against alcoholism. In the late 80s, artists from the "Workshop of Folk Graphics" created the collection "The World Against Drunkenness."
A small part of the engravings is in storage. These are mainly illustrations dedicated to the family of Nicholas II Romanov. Be sure to visit the museum, Moscow offers many interesting excursions in history and contemporary art.
How to visit?
The Museum of Popular Graphics is located at 10/9 Maly Golovin Lane (metro Chistye Prudy) - in the historical place of the capital.
You can visit the museum as part of a group tour. Those who have already visited it claim that it will be interesting not only for adults, but also for children.
The price of an adult ticket is 40 rubles. A ticket for children and students will cost half the price. The institution is a member of the state program "Accessible Environment" and is convenient for people with disabilities to visit.
The museum regularly collaborates with various charitable organizations and foundations.
In the capital there are many interesting institutions of this kind. List of museums worth visiting: the giant museum, the museum of illusion, the Moscow Museum of Modern Art, the cosmonautics museum , the All-Russian Museum of Decorative, Applied and Folk Art and many others.
Everyone will find something interesting for themselves. Modern museums regularly hold large-scale events to attract visitors of all ages.