Decorative and applied art of the twentieth century in the National Art Museum of Belarus

On November 28, an exhibition opened in Minsk dedicated to the traditions of decorative design of porcelain and fabrics. The exposition was composed of magnificent Russian porcelain items created in the period from 1918 until 1990. And also amazing patterned printed scarves, which women from all over the USSR used to love to decorate their heads with.

Porcelain presented at the exhibition can rightfully be considered the property of Russian decorative and applied art. The collection includes items made according to the highest standards of enterprises such as the Leningrad, Dmitrievsky and Dulevo porcelain factories. As well as the work of Novgorod masters, which have their own distinctive features.

The close interweaving of history and culture makes this exhibition special. By the example of porcelain figurines, one can trace how the tsarist empire collapsed and the country of the Bolsheviks was created. The change of power led to a change in morals, the formation of new artistic images, a dramatic revolution in the consciousness of the people and a change in cultural paradigms.

The high value of Russian porcelain is also confirmed by the fact that already in 1925 the products of many factories and craftsmen achieved the highest recognition from the Western public and made a splash at an exhibition in Paris. Tea sets, figurines, individual plates and mugs - all the works presented at the exhibition are distinguished by originality, high technique of execution and cause admiration.

The exposition is complemented by magnificent authorial fabrics made by the best artists from Pavlovsky Posad. Indeed, the patterned shawls of this region are the brightest symbol of traditional culture and have enjoyed great popularity from the 17th century until the end of the 20th century.

Eve Istr