Below are icons of East Europe found in the Timken museum at Balboa Park.. I went to this museum as it was free. I love Russian icons as the art is different from the west European style. They remind me of what was popular in the 60s in India...silver or gold coloured Hindu God etchings on tin, covered with glass on a photo frame. These were, ubiquitous to middle class homes in Bangalore. They were given as wedding gifts too. I believe these tin Gods on photo frames are available even now.
I have a soft corner for these icons for a few reasons. For one, I am religiously inspired when I see them. When I see the west European art i.e. oil paintings by old masters of Christ and Mary, I am inspired by their aesthetics and beauty but I don't feel religious when I see them.
In the above art work, if you observe, the art-work appears to be gauche. I suppose one could call it naïve art or folk art. Despite the gaucheness, it inspires religious feelings in me, unlike the west European works about Christ or Mary or the saints.
Above painting has metal halos, round the head...it's NOT painted but probably nailed on
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