Russian lacquer art is the craft of making papier-mâché decorative boxes and panels, which are then lacquered and hand painted by the artists, often with scenes from folk tales. This coloring book was inspired from the works of masters of Palekh, Mstyora and Kholui. All three are situated in the former Vladimir-Suzdal Principality, Ivanovo region of central Russia. They are deeply rooted in the 17th-19th century icon painting tradition, which lasted until the Russian Revolution of 1917, and is now being revived by young artists, who use the technique of painting in egg-based tempera overlaid with intricate gold leaf highlighting.
