Russian Lacquer Box "Winter" by Vera Smirnova

Artist: Vera Smirnova
Dimensions: 4.5" x 2.5" x 1.5"
Village: Palekh

In this masterful lacquer miniature, Vera Smirnova captures the stillness and solemn beauty of winter with quiet intensity. A young woman, cloaked in layers of richly detailed robes adorned with delicate snowflake motifs, gently warms her hands by a glowing fire. Her downcast eyes and graceful posture evoke both serenity and introspection, embodying the quiet endurance of the season. Behind her, a grove of stylized, snow-laden trees shimmers with iridescent greens and frosted blues beneath a starlit sky, painted with exquisite detail and depth. The flame’s warm glow casts golden reflections against the cold, shadowy landscape, a poignant contrast that conveys both hardship and hope. A gilded border frames the scene, adding elegance and timelessness to this poetic tribute to winter’s quiet soul.