The works of artists of the Palekh lacquer miniature craft in the field of design of theatrical productions of the 1930s - 1970s (Palekh and Theater)

The subject of the proposed research is a historical analysis of the works of the masters of the Palekh craft of the 1930s - 1970s in the field of design of theatrical productions – a little-studied phenomenon of Russian folk culture of the twentieth century. The author of the article draws the most illustrative examples, referring to the sketches created by Palekh artists for productions of the Soviet theater. Special attention in the study is paid to the largest figures of the craft who worked in the field of theatrical design: I. I. Golikov, P. D. Bazhenov, N. M. Parilov, A. A. Kotukhina. The purpose of the article is to show the importance of the creative contribution of the Palekh masters to the development of theatrical and decorative art of the Soviet era on the extensive material of numerous productions of major theaters in Moscow, Leningrad and other cities.   Using the method of comparative analysis, as well as historical-systemic and iconographic research methods, the author emphasizes the importance of knowledge about the works of Palekh artists in the field of theatrical productions for a correct understanding of the general history of Palekh craft in the twentieth century. The scientific novelty of the research consists in an attempt to analyze the topic under consideration as a single complex phenomenon. The main conclusion of the article is the thesis about the inseparable connection of Paleshan's "theatrical" works with lacquer miniature: the theatrical design works of Palekh masters appear at the same time with their experiments with lacquer miniature; the largest Palekh miniaturists worked with theaters; during the entire Soviet period, Paleshan's experience in theatrical and decorative art was in demand as much as and their lacquer miniature.