Show all images on one page	#005440 Title: The First Tractor Artist: Lyakh Sergey Size: 24x18x5 Size (inches): 9.5x7.5x2 Price : $1250 SOLD!

Sergey Lyakh of Palekh has painted this composition based on the Soviet epoch theme. Such boxes were very popular during the Soviet era and you can find them in every catalogue dedicated to the history of Russian lacquer Art. These boxes and his own remembrances of the Soviet Era inspired Lyakh to create this magnificent box.
The artist depicts one of the first collective farms in the Soviet Union. After the Great October Revolution, approximately, in the twenties of the twentieth century, when collective farms were organized, every peasant was obliged to become a member of the collective farm (or Kolkhoz in Russian). Those who didn't want to work for a collective, but wished to work for his own benefit was called "kulak" and soon were repressed.
In the left upper part of the composition we can see the girls holding the transparency with the following inscription: "Everyone must be a member of the collective farm." In the left bottom part of the composition the artist depicts the lad driving the first tractor in the collective farm. The tractor is painted realistically and repeats the model of a German tractor "Forzon" produced that time. The lad's head is covered with "budenovka" that is a part of Red Army man's uniform. In the right bottom the workers making the railway, and a little above there is the steam locomotive the front part of which has the following inscription: "I.V. Stalin" and decorated with the red star. At the locomotive's side also shows the similar inscription: "Iosif Stalin". In the middle of the composition there is the collective farm club where the meeting of communists takes place. On one of the club's walls hangs the portrait of Lenin and the red ribbon hanging over the room shows the following inscription: "Let collectivization be".
Bold and vivid tones of red, orange, ochre, yellow, green and blue paint are taken from the artist's palette to create this scene. The subtle application of gold and aluminum paint to the scene illuminates the box and adds detail, highlighting almost all aspects of the composition. Gold and aluminum paint can be found in the figures' clothing and the landscape.
The box is constructed out of paper-mache. Black lacquer covers the exterior and red lacquer covers the interior of the box. The lid is bordered with a gold ornamentation. The box's sides are adorned with beautiful gold and aluminum flower decoration. The box has a hinge above the composition and rests on four feet. The artist has signed the box at the bottom right corner and in the bottom left corner signed Palekh.