Only when the maiden comes and professes her true love towards him can he be broken from the spell. Egg-tempera paint is the primary medium used in the depiction of this scene. Many greens and blues are used to convey the calm and sad mood of the girl s situation. The blue water rushing under the swan is given movement and texture with an expert application of aluminum lines to create the effect. The castle in the background is the only subject in the composition that contains rigid lines and a sharp structure.
Gold paint is used very extensively to highlight and give detail to the piece.
However, the application of gold paint is subtle and does not dominate the composition. The box is constructed out of paper-mache made in the village of Palekh. Black lacquer is used to paint the exterior and red lacquer is used to paint the interior of the piece. Gold beading frames the scene and gold filigree with small aluminum flowers wraps around the sides of the box for decoration. A Palekh expert has refinished the box over the years, explaining the box s youthful gleam.