Anastasia Gumirova’s textile panel ‘Seeing Off Winter’ is dedicated to Maslenitsa — one of the most famous folk holidays. Maslenitsa separates winter and spring, as well as the Lent and the time from Christmas to Shrovetide. The holiday was always associated with rituals, games, and fun. It symbolized seeing off the winter cold, the onset of the long-awaited warmth and the awakening of all living things.
Gumirova created a panel with a complex composition. The main action is shown in the central part framed by the side images. This technique makes the panel look like a hagiographic icon with border scenes. They are small compositions on the margins that complement or explain the main plot.
The craftswoman focused on the genre multi-figure scene of festivities but also depicted the details of the village such as houses, a mill, a small Orthodox church with a golden onion dome. Anastasia Gumirova emphasized the multicomponent structure of the panel with color. The blue central part is clearly separated from the beige peripheral part.
To show topographic features, depth, and space, to depict numerous details, while working on the panel, the craftswoman used appliques, patchwork, hand stitch, and embroidery.
