Early Soviet porcelain artists often relied on designs and motifs found in circulation in the popular press at the time. For this plate, Golenkina relies on the design of a popular printed calendar for the year 1919.

The original image was designed by the graphic artist Boris Zvorykin (1872-?), commonly known at the time as the 'Bilibin of Moscow'. Zvorykin's winged horse and cavalryman stylistically match Golenkina's red figure. Yet Golenkina heightens the Revolutionary undertone of the scene by changing the background to one of radiant destruction.

References

T. Nosovich, I. Popova, Gosudarstvenniy Farforoviy Zavod, St Petersburg, 2005