He also includes, in the background, black images outlined in red banner-like surroundings, which parallels the idea of the masses gathering behind their leader. The detail of the facial features is tremendous and shows the man as being very strong willed and unflinching. Gold leaf is inlayed and painted over. Some areas of the composition reveal the underlying gold color, which lights up the painting under the faintest of light sources. The box is constructed out of paper-mache made in the village of Fedoskino.
Black lacquer is used to paint the exterior and red lacquer to paint the interior of the box.
There is no decoration adorning the box because the quality of the paint speaks for itself and is easily able to stand-alone. The box has no hinge and rests on a flat bottom.