Product Description
Russian Lubok (Русский Лубок). Hand painted matryoshka in the Lubok graphic style. "Lubok" (лубо́к, лубо́чная картинка) is a popular print with simple text that explains the story of the picture. Basically a late 17th-early 18th century comic scene. These "lubki" sometimes appeared in a series, and are a predecessor of the comic strip.
The lubok text on the first doll depicts the meeting of a noblewoman with Peter the Great, a popular lubok subject, who introduces herself as "Herona". The second has a young man taking the buckets from the young girl, who tells him "give it to me, I don't know how to carry it, but you don't have any fun with it". The third doll depicts another common lubok theme: "A thief came into my yard to steal my rooster!". The fourth shows a scuffle between two "fine" young men, looking for a fight. And the last shows the famous Kazan Cat, a special breed of "mouser" from the Middle Ages.
Signed and dated 1993 by the artist on the bottom perimeter of the first doll. 5 nest, 5½" down to 2". 1 only, as shown.
Condition note: some chipping at the top of the first doll as well as the fourth doll (could be touched up).