Sil'nyi i slavnyi kharbryi voin Anika. [Anika - Strong, Glorious and Brave Soldier]

VASIL'YEV, V.A. [printer]

Published by Moscow: V.A. Vasil'yev c1887, 1887

About this Item

A handcoloured Lubok lithograph showing Anika the Warrior engaged in a battle against death. In Russian legend, Anika is a Bogatyr, that group of heroic warrior knights whose principal duty was to protect Russia against foreign invasion. Anika was something of a loose cannon, as he is best known for planning to destroy the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem (believed to be the site of Jesus's Crucifixion and Burial). On his way, Anika is challenged by the figure of Death in disguise who defeats him. This striking image is a fine example of a Lubok print, a distinctively Russian type of popular art which uses simple images in the naive style, to represent stories from myth, legend, history (especially military), literature and religion, often with a strongly nationalistic theme. They could be cheaply reproduced and so were widely printed and distributed. Although they are found uncoloured, one of the most charming aspects of lubki prints is the use of bright, dramatic colours such as the vivid yellow, red and purple in this print of Anika about to meet his end. Seller Inventory # 3625

Bibliographic Details

Title: Sil'nyi i slavnyi kharbryi voin Anika. [...

Publisher: Moscow: V.A. Vasil'yev c1887

Publication Date: 1887