Painted Eggs

The famed painted eggs, especially prominent around Easter time, are the most readily recognizable examples of Romanian folk art. Intricate patterns were actually secret languages known only to residents of the regions where they were painted. 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.

It is not by chance that this type of popular art is very close to the popular art represented by the glass painting and the pottery art. The painting of eggs plays an important role in Romanian popular art. Although it seems that this type of art has a minor importance or that it belongs to the past, this art is still vivid in numerous ethnographical regions within Romania. It is worth noting that the painting of eggs is in total accordance with other manifestations of the Romanian popular art with respect of its content of motifs, rules of composition, and that of coloring.

The mostly used procedure in much of Eastern Europe are the simple coloring as well as the “writing” with wax to embellish their eggs. Before the availability of paint, the artist used different plant pigments to color the eggs. Colors were chosen usually from plant leaves, flowers and tree bark that were then boiled. To obtain red colors leaves of red onion or the peony flowers were often used. Yellow colors were derived from the apple tree bark or some yellow flowers. Nut tree leaves were used to give a coffee-color. Raw rye of spring, the horsemint or the birch tree leaves were used to give the green color.

Before starting the painting the eggs were made some preparations: the choosing of eggs with smooth eggshell and being fresh, the preparation of a “pencil” to “write” with wax, and the choosing of the colors. The bee’s wax was first melted in a pot and then blackened with coal dust in order that the lines drawn would be visible on the eggshell.
The motifs that were chosen reflected the surrounding world and usually represented everyday life that gave this type of art a popular and realistic character. Most astonishing is the frequency of solar and star motifs. The sun appears in many situations as the symbol of spring, happiness and love of light.

An extremely important and a much widespread theme is those motifs inspired directly from the social life (objects, tools) such as the motif of the “hook”. Numerous other motifs, highly stylized in a geometrical sense are: the “hoes” and the “pitchfork” for hay.

The phytomorph (plant) motifs expressed the natures beauties are widely present in the egg painting reflecting the Romanian folklore. From the generic “leaf” and “flower” to the snow drops as messengers of spring, through the pansies, trefoil, acorn of oak tree, fern, fir tree, the repertoire seems endless. Each motif is modulated according to the skill and personality of each “painter”.

The fewest representations on the eggs are the anthropomorph (man) motifs. These motifs show man appears doing his occupation, his agricultural tool, or through the figure of the shepherd who plays his whistle.

In the second half of the 19th century chemical substances started to be used. The old dyestuff from plants was, in many cases, those used for the dyeing of wool. The preference for the chemically manufactured paint was that it did the work faster, with increased efficiency.

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