The Khokhloma painting, like the Dymkovo toy, Vologda lace, Pavlovo Posad shawls and other crafts reflect the spirit and traditions of our people. Today, interest in this art form is constantly growing. Khokhloma toys, painted dishes and furniture become not only museum exhibits, but also an organic part of our life. They will be discussed today.
Followers of icon painters
It is not known for certain how the Khokhloma painting appeared. According to modern ideas, the industry has more than 300 years. He appeared in the Volga region, where the territory of the Koverninsky district of the Gorky region is now located. Khokhloma toys and kitchen utensils are distinguished by a special honey-golden color of the background or details of the pattern. It is he who makes the painting unique. It is believed that the technology for obtaining this shade was taken by masters from the Old Believers. They knew how to give icons a golden sheen without using precious metal.
Technology
Regardless of what the Khokhloma painting covers: toys, dishes, or furniture, the principle of painting is the same. The wooden workpiece is covered with soil and drying oil, and then rubbed with aluminum powder. Previously, tin was used instead, however, modern technologies allow the production of aluminum in large quantities, and therefore it is now it is used in the process of creating Khokhloma utensils. The product covered with metal powder is painted. Then I cover it again with drying oil and two layers of varnish, after which the workpiece is sent to the furnace. From there, painted objects come out already in gold. Under the influence of high temperature, a special coating changes the color of the product, and the metal layer gives a characteristic shine.
Beautiful and strong
The color characteristic of Khokhloma is obtained due to the special composition covering the pattern. However, the value of such products is not only in their beauty. The varnish that protects the painting is particularly resistant. He is not afraid of either high temperature or mechanical stress. Khokhloma toys can be safely given to kids. Even if the children decide to bathe them in ice water, nothing will happen to the painting. The same applies to dishes: cups, plates, jugs and spoons, covered with Khokhloma, are not afraid of boiling water or cold.
Khokhloma toy: history
Of course, first of all, Khokhloma covered dishes and interior items. In the XVII century, when it is believed that this type of painting appeared, tin powder was expensive, and therefore not everyone could afford it. However, a Khokhloma toy gradually appeared. Drawings using traditional elements began to decorate small figures of animals and people.
Most often, toys were made of wood. Living material responded well and was relatively inexpensive. For the manufacture of their goods, toy masters used birch, aspen, pine and linden. From region to region, the preferences of artisans varied depending on the prevalence of a particular tree species. Of the tools for making toys, an ax and a knife were used, sometimes a chisel.
Semenov Hohloma
Of course, talking about a folk toy will be incomplete, if you do not remember the Russian doll. For many, the history of its occurrence may be an unexpected discovery. Matryoshka came to Russia at the end of the 19th century from ... Japan. Its prototype was the Indian patriarch Jarma, who, according to legend, spent nine long years in fasting and meditation, as a result of which his arms and legs fell off. The wisdom of the sage was respected in Japan, where he was revered by God and called Daruma. Numerous figurines depicted him without arms and legs. Gradually, the tradition came to put one mini-sculpture in another - and so on up to seven “layers”.
The souvenir was named Fukurumu and in this form came to Russia. Seeing him, the artist Sergey Malyutin was inspired to create a new toy. Instead of an old man without arms and legs, he depicted a red-cheeked beauty in a scarf. And so the doll appeared. Gradually, the tradition of making such a toy reached the city of Semenov and remained there. Masters here make and paint dolls today. Often, the so-called Semenov Hohloma is used to decorate toys. It is distinguished from traditional by large and bright flowers, a slightly different color scheme.
Khokhloma today
Crafts and traditions in our time are of interest not only to historians. A variety of masters turn to them: from simple needlewomen to eminent fashion designers and designers. Thanks to the rapid development of information technology, today it is enough to simply find material on the topic. And to the question how to draw a Khokhloma toy, you can easily find the right answer. Craft tourism also develops when craftsmen travel to the homeland of a particular art form and learn directly from the guardians of traditions.
Khokhloma toys still delight children who love everything bright and unusual. Many teachers, in order to develop artistic abilities in their students and arouse interest in traditional culture, conduct classes that teach Khokhloma techniques. This type of painting is known and respected abroad. Tourists from different countries, returning home, bring home dolls, kitchen utensils and even furniture covered with Khokhloma painting as a gift. Now we can say with confidence that this type of folk art has found its niche in the modern world and more than one generation will be inspired by its juicy patterns.