Zhostovo. Past, Present, Future

«Zhostovo. Past, Present, Future» — is a book about the history of Zhostovo painting, its artistic language, and its place in Russian decorative applied arts. The publication is suitable for those who want to understand how the famous craft emerged, how the painting of metal trays differs, and how the tradition lives on today. The focus is not only on recognizable floral bouquets and ornaments but also on the work of masters, the development of the factory, changes in artistic solutions, and the connection of the craft with different eras.

The book collects more than two centuries of the history of the Zhostovo craft, which dates back to 1825. The material covers the journey from the first workshops in the Moscow region village of Zhostovo to the modern decorative painting factory. A separate place is given to the stages of style development: how compositions, palettes, painting techniques, and the role of the tray changed — from a household item to an independent artistic image.

The publication belongs to books on art, art history, and folk artistic crafts. Inside — an overview of characteristic motifs, the development of the artistic school, and how the craft maintains continuity while remaining part of a living cultural tradition.