Show all images on one page	#002269 Title: A Cow on the Ice Artist: Molodkin Denis Size: 16x13x3 Size (inches): 6.25x5.25x1.25 Price : $1150 SOLD!

Mstera artist Denis Molodkin is the talented craftsman responsible for this entertaining piece of authentic Russian artistry. His father happens to be Mstera master painter Vladimir Molodkin. The influence is evident and quite intriguing. Character animation and the thoroughly expressive use of color are two of the more impressive features of this box.
Here the artist has chosen to depict a humorous scene that is called "A Cow on the Ice".
The cow appears to be skating across the icy surface of the frozen river! This is not the best time for an attempt at swimming. The shocked peasants are trying to drag out the cow from the ice.
Molodkin uses a palette that is filled with subdued tones of brown, blue and dirty white that give the scene a wintry atmosphere. The reflection of the cow and the old lady upon that surface is a perfect example of Molodkin's attention to detail. There is great depth to this scene as well. The background village appears distant and the deep purple-blue horizon appears even further back. This makes the action jump right off the surface of the box. It is worth noticing just how much beauty the composition maintains without the addition of gold paint within it. This has to do with color selection, something that Denis Molodkin has a firm grip upon. Reality and fiction result in wonderful color combinations for the audience.
The box is constructed from paper-mache. Black lacquer is used to paint the exterior of the piece while red lacquer completes the interior of the box. A hinge has been fastened just above the composition. The lid's composition is framed with a thin band of gold and an intricate pattern of golden filigree that is flawless in execution. A feathering pattern of flowered golden filigree is used to decorate all four sides of the box. Molodkin signed this name, the title, the village name of Mstera and the year of 2002 of which the piece was finished along the bottom of the scene in gold paint.