“From behind the island to the mainstream” is a Russian song. It is considered to be a folk-song though the text of the song was written by Dmitriy Sadovnikov. Its genre is an urban Russian Romantic Song.

The song is devoted to ataman Stepan Razin personality. Events from the history of Stepan Razin rebellion became the plot of the song. Russian bylinas are one of the popular topics in miniature lacquer painting.

Lev Alexandrovich Fomichev (1932–2018) was an honorary member of Russian Academy of Arts, a people’s artist of RF, one of the leading masters of Mstyora miniature lacquer painting.

His creativity was based on centuries-old traditions of the Old Russian art: icon-painting and book-miniature. Color laconism is a defining characteristic of his works, the main topics that inspired the artist were topics from Russian history, Russian bylinas, folklore and Russian folk-songs. 

Painting of the small box “From behind the island to the mainstream” is an outstanding example of Lev Fomichev’s creativity. The name of his small box is a line from the Russian song, the text of the song was written by Dmitriy Sadovnikov.

The song is devoted to Stepan Razin personality. The legend about Mamedkhan’s daughter became a plot of the song. Mamedkhan was the Commander-In-Chief of Persian fleet. The fleet was destroyed by Stepan Razin free Cossacks and Mamedkhan’s daughter was captivated. According to the legend Stepan Razin said to the Volga:

In continuation of the words Stepan Razin threw the princess overboard.

In the small box picture the Cossacks, their ataman and the princess are depicted during the wedding celebration before tragic events. Due to the plot the author managed to convey colorful decorativeness of the painting. Canvas patterns of the boats which resemble traditional Russian roushniki (towels) and dynamic silhouettes of the celebrants draw attention.