This book, by Nina Bakhtigiryaeva, will bring give you a very close up look at the people and atmosphere in the village of Palekh. Bahtigiryaeva is a well known artist herself, and in the book she has drawn approximately 50 pen and ink portraits of top Palekh artists, past and present. Interspersed between the portraits are actual photos of the artists and their environment, giving you a real sense for life in this small village and their dedication to this art form. Also, in the book are a number of poems, written by artists themselves, that speak to the lives that they lead and their inner feelings. Shown below are a couple pages from the book, one of which features a portrait of Vera Smirnova, who has a number of works on our website. The book is written in Russian. It is professionally done, but has a limited publication run. A great item for a collector of this art form, or for someone who wants to further understand the spirit of a small, but world renowned, Russian art community.