Arts and Crafts of Romania
Crafts of Romania
"What is that impulse, that irresistible force which will not let the peasant rest content with the merely useful, but drives him to seek the best proportioned and most harmonious forms that appeal to the eye by color and line, are pleasant to the touch and produce that rare sense of contentment, poise of mind and joy which characterize aesthetic enjoyment?
(Peasant Art in Romania, by George Oprescu, 1929)
While there are great Romanian fine artists, among whom 20th century sculptor Constantin Brancusi is probably the most famous, the typical zest for life and almost naive optimism that the world is really a beautiful place seem best expressed in the traditional art and craft of Romanian peasants, extending even to their colorful, unique grave markers. In the "Merry Cemetery" of Sapanta," bordering Ukraine, carved wooden crosses are painted traditional Voronet blue (named for the nearby painted monastery) and embellished with fanciful borders, renderings of the deceased and often anecdotes of their lives. An erstwhile town mayor is memorialized with anecdotes of his womanizing ways.
As in most parts of the world, full-time artists and artisans are drawn together, tending to form communities throughout the country, where locales are aesthetically inspiring and economically viable. Bucharest and a few of the larger towns boast a few galleries showcasing work from such artist communities, but most don't have galleries. A few examples of local artists' and artisans' work are shown and sold in town museums, but most is sold in street markets adjoining major attractions. Sellers usually are also the makers and many speak English. A conversation with them can reveal fascinating facets of Romanian culture. Craft which are most popular include:
Painted Eggs
The most readily recognizable examples of Romanian art are the famed painted eggs, especially prominent around Easter time. Painting of real hollowed-out eggs was an integral part of preparations for this festival of renewal. Women and children gathered in someone's home and spent a day painting and gossiping. Intricate patterns were actually secret languages known only to residents of the regions where they were painted. The oldest known were painted with aqua fortis (nitric acid) on a traditional red background. They're available in nearly all shops and street markets.
Ceramics
Romanian pottery is still made mainly on traditional kick-wheels with simple finishing tools. Shapes, sizes and patterns reflect the different clays and cultures of diverse areas where are produced. Color glazes and decorations vary from strong geometrics, to delicate florals, animals and humans. There are approximately 30 pottery centers throughout the country, each with its own distinctive style, but the main areas are in Horezu in Oltenia; Miercurea-Ciuc and Corund in western Transylvania; Baia Mare near the northern border, and Radauti and Marginea in Moldavia.
Wood
Maramures is the area to see the art of woodwork. Homes are trimmed in elaborately carved wood, wooden gates and even fences are intricately carved. Historically, in this area, a family's community status was displayed through the gate – the more elaborate, the more important the family. The "Merry Cemetery" of Sapanta is in this region, open all year long, at all times -- it's worth a visit. Hand-carved decorations in complex patterns hold meanings beyond the purely decorative. Trees of life, twisted rope, moons, stars, flowers and wolf teeth to ward off evil spirits are associated with myths and superstitions. They show up in furniture, spoons, ladles, walking sticks, keepsake chests and other decorative objects, sometimes embellished with paint. Wooden flutes and recorders are also elaborately carved. Most prized are the multi-piped pan flutes, which are now very rare, as few artisans know how to make them and even fewer know how to play them.
Textiles
At the edge of the street market adjacent to Bran Castle is a peasant cottage with a window behind which an old woman sits at her loom weaving and watching the passing scene. She'll invite interested visitors into her home, where her English-speaking daughter will explain that she's 74 years old and has been weaving since she was seven. She still weaves with thread she spins herself from sheep her family keeps in their tiny enclosed courtyard. On view in her tiny weaving room, which is also her bedroom, is a selection of magnificent throws and spreads that she has woven. Not for sale, they're priceless examples of this enduring way of life.
Textile weaving is the most widespread craft in Romania, handed down from generation to generation, using distinctive family patterns along with those specific to different districts. Looms still are common in homes and women weave and embroider from childhood through old age. The predominant fibers, wool and cotton are woven into rugs, wall hangings, table covers and clothing. Some Romanian weavers and embroiderers still work with threads and yarns they produce themselves, but younger weavers tend to purchase their raw materials. They weave and embroider just about every cloth article used in their homes, from colorful linen and cotton towels to window draperies, bedspreads, rugs, wall hangings, furniture throws and clothing. In a village near Sibiu, part of a bride's dowry is still a tolic, used to decorate horses of those who ride from house to house issuing wedding invitations.
Embroidery on folk costumes worn for holidays and special occasions (like weddings) follows strict regional patterns and serves also as a sort of secret language known only to people within the different regions. Sibiu uses graphic black and white motifs, reflecting its Saxon heritage; southern regions of Arges, Muscel, Dimbovita and Prahova use red, black maroon, yellow, gold, and silver threads, reflecting influences of the Ottoman Empire. Buzau uses terra cotta; Oas uses green and Moldavia uses orange and the Voronet blue made world-famous by its use on the monastery of the same name. Especially beautiful is cut embroidery on white or ecru linen and cotton, done throughout the country.
© Cristian-Alexandru Catana
Rugs
While technically textiles, these deserve their own category, because no other textiles so dramatically reflect their regions of origin. As varied as different areas' attractions, so too are the rugs that are displayed on surrounding fences. Most are flat-weave kilims, probably introduced centuries ago by the controlling Ottoman Empire. Today's hand-weavers mix traditional vegetable-dyed yarns with commercial aniline-dyed yarns to produce startling accents within traditional patterns and colors. Rugs from Oltenia reflect nature, with flowers, trees and birds. Those of Moldavia have patterns of little branches repeated in rows to create a tree of life. Rugs from Maramures tend to have geometric shapes, resembling those from Turkey and the Caucasian mountains.
Masks
Masks are linked to folk festivals held predominantly in Maramures and Moldavia. Typically made from the hides of sheep, goats or cows, the masks are adorned with fabric, hats, pompoms, metallic bits, feathers, beans, straw and animal horns to represent bears and goats, they're traditionally worn to welcome in the New Year during a couple weeks in December and early January.
Glass
The oldest preserved Romanian glass dates back to the Roman Empire. Currently, there is a renewed passion for creating art in blown glass and several contemporary Romanian glass artists enjoy world renown. Most of the professional glass artists are clustered in the northeast, near Botosani. Glass artisans are also employed in factories located in Avrig, Turda and Buzau, turning out molded, hand-carved and hand-blown pieces, many of which are museum quality.
Arts of Romania
Works of Brancusi are in various locales, but one of the finest collections is in the city of Targu Jiu, in Oltenia province on the southern border of the Carpathian Mountains. "The Endless Column" (Coloana Infinita), "The Gate of the Kiss" (Poarta Sarutului), "The Table of Silence" (Masa Tacerii) and "The Alley of Chairs" (Aleea Scaunelor) are displayed in the city's main park as indicated by the great sculptor.
Nearby Horezu is a major center for ceramics, wood carving and iron forging and the Horezu Museum of Art showcases some of the best work of past and contemporary artists.
Romania has a great diversity of museums preserving every facet of its history and arts. Some are small museums, catering to enthusiasts with a taste for special interests such as pharmacy, clocks, railway trains, folk arts and architecture, wine making and traditional crafts. Larger museums host regular exhibitions from around the world, as well as housing permanent collections of paintings and sculptures. Prominent museums include Romania's National Museum of Art, the Art Collections Museum, the Village Museum, the Museum of the Romanian Peasant in Bucharest, and the Bruckenthal Museum in Sibiu.
Romania's Major Art Museums include:
Arad - Art Museum (Complexul Muzeal Arad ) - www.museumarad.ro
Brasov Art Museum www.muzeulartabv.ro/
Brasov - Ethnographic Museum (Muzeul de Etnografie) - www.etnobrasov.ro
Bucharest – Cotroceni Palace & Museum (Muzeul National Cotroceni) - www.muzeulcotroceni.ro
Bucharest History & Art Museum (Muzeul de Istorie si Arta al Municipiului Bucuresti)
Bucharest - Minovici Museum of Ancient Western Art (Muzeul de Arta Veche Apuseana)
Bucharest - Museum of the Romanian Peasant (Muzeul Taranului Roman) - www.muzeultaranuluiroman.ro
Bucharest - National Art Museum - www.mnar.arts.ro
Bucharest - National Museum of Contemporary Art - www.mnac.ro
Bucharest - Storck Museum (Muzeul de Arta Frederic Storck si Cecilia Cutescu-Storck)
Bucharest - Theodor Pallady Museum (Muzeul Theodor Pallady)
Bucharest - Zambaccian Museum (Muzeul Zambaccian)
Cluj Napoca National Art Museum - www.macluj.ro
Cluj Napoca Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania (Muzeul Etnografic al Transilvaniei) - www.muzeul-etnografic.ro
Constanta - Art Museum (Muzeul de Arta)
Constanta - Folk Art Museum (Muzeul de Arta Populara)
Iasi Art Museum - www.muzeul-moldova.ro
Oradea Museum of Art (Muzeul Tarii Crisurilor)
Sibiu Brukenthal Museum - www.brukenthalmuseum.ro
Sibiu - Emil Sigerus Saxon Ethnographic Museum (Muzeul de Etnographie si Arta Populara Saseasca Emil Sigerus)
Sibiu - Franz Binder World Ethnographic Museum (Muzeul de Etnografie Universala Franz Binder)
Sibiu - ASTRA Open Air Museum (Muzeul in aer liber ASTRA -Dumbrava Sibiului) - www.MuzeulAstra.ro
Sighetu Marmatiei - Maramures Ethnographic Museum (Muzeul de Etnografie al Maramuresului)
Suceava - Bucovina Ethnographic Museum (Muzeul de Etnografie Hanul Domnesc)
Timisoara Art Museum - www.muzeuldeartatm.ro
Arts and Crafts of Romania - Beautiful handmade, hand stitched traditional blouse.
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