The old Russian village of Kholui (Ivanovo region) is known for its remarkable scenic beauty. This unique corner of Russia seems to have been created precisely to astound the world with its original charm. The clear blue waters of the Teza river reflect the silvery boughs of the bordering willows and the domes of the white-stone 17th century Trinity Church.

In spring the river overflows its banks flooding the whole district and turning the streets into canals. Boats are used to get about town - to kindergarten, school and work. The high water stays all of April. Then the land, quickly dons its verdant garb looking more attractive than ever after its rejuvinating spring "wash" and inspiring the artist to new poetic landscapes.

Kholui is also famous for its ages-old history.

First mentioned in 1546 in Ivan the Terrible's deed it was granted fifty years later to Dmitry Pozharsky by the tsar of Muscovy for his services to the country. One kilometre away from Kholui is an 18th century architectural monument - the complex of the former monastery "Borkovskaya Pustyn" founded and financed by the Princes Pozharsky.

From times long past icon painting was a hereditary occupation. The village's convenient location afforded close links with many towns of the state of Muscovy and promoted the production of icons for the market. These were chiefly "popular" icons that required no special workmanship. Yet there were also pieces executed on a high artistic level boasting magnificent scripture and virtuoso chasing work on a gold ground.

The emergence of lacquer miniature in Kholui owes credit to the October Revolution. Its history has much in common with that of Palekh and Mstera lacquer art. In 1931 the Mstera branch of an art artel specializing in rug painting was set up in Kholui, and on July 1, 1934 it was developed into an art artel. Its more gifted icon painters, among them S.A.Mokin, K.V.Kosterin, M.D.Dobrynin and V.D.Puzanov-Molev began to paint lacquer objects of papier-mache made after Fedoskino technology.

In 1935 a school of team-apprenticeship was opened under the artel which was later reorganized into a vocational art school. Over a thousand specialists for artistic folk crafts were trained in this unique educational establishment.

The final emergence of the new Kholui style took place in the' 40s. In those years many works on historical subjects were created by S.A.Mokin, K.V.Kosterin and V.D.Puzanov-Molev.

Kholui art is distinguished for its more concrete and picturesque character as compared with Palekh and Mstera. It employs a wide range of warm ground colours, with preference for yellows, browns and reds, joined with a sparing ornament. In distinction from Mstera the Kholui landscape lacks the former's light-coloured receding prospects and comes out as an element that underlines and deepens the content; it is often symbolic. Kholui art also depicts figures on a larger scale.

Kholui miniatures are more realistic than their Palekh and Mstera counterparts, yet more decorative than those of Fedoskino. Their stylistic features were displayed to the best advantage in the landscape genre.

The art of Kholui miniature is the youngest of all the Russian lacquer crafts. In 1947 the artel welcomed the first graduates from the vocational art school, those who form its artistic nucleus today: V.A.Belov, V.I.Fomin, N.I.Baburin, B.V.Tikhonravov, B.I.Kiselev, N.N.Denisov, A.M.Kosterin, A.A.Kamorin.

The young painters V.A/Yolkin, V.N.Cedov, A.A.Smirnov, P.A.Mityashin, A.N.Sotscov and Alexei & Galina Shilovs are working in the finest traditions of the older generation.

The lacquer miniature of present-day Kholui is a vivid art embodying the experience, talent, skill and wisdom of many generations.