"Russia in a Box follows the development of Palekh art over two centuries as it adapted to dramatic changes in the Russian nation. Peasant master craftsmen of Palekh created religious icons as early as the sixteenth century, but it was not until Russia's victory over Napoleon in 1814 that the village gained widespread recognition for its artistic contributions. That same year, the poet Goethe's discovery of the works of Palekh artists and craftsmen spurred interest in preserving the sacred art. The religious icons produced by Palekh masters in the nineteenth century became a source of Russian national pride." "By the 1880s, some Palekh artists began to foresee their future as secular artists - a trend that was ensured by the Bolshevik Revolution. Tolerated and sometimes even encouraged by the new regime, the Palekh artists began to create finely decorated lacquer boxes that portray themes from fairy tales and idealized Russian history in exquisite miniatures. A new medium with new subject matter, these lacquer boxes became a new symbol of Russian identity during the 1920s."--Jacket.