Painting on glass as a kind of decorative and applied art

A Painting on glass is one of the ancient folk crafts based on the rich artistic
traditions of old times. It reflects aesthetic tastes of our nation and people’s
understanding of environmental phenomena. This
technique dates back to the times of Byzantium and Rome
and has long-lasting traditions in both professional and
folk art.
B Painting on glass developed in the central Europe in
the XVII-XVIII centuries. It became widespread in
Ukraine at the beginning of the XIX century, mostly in the
western regions of Bykovyna, Halychyna, Hutsulshchyna
and Transcarpathia. In Ukraine painting on glass had two directions: secular and
religious.
C

Ukrainian painting on glass adapted and acquired original figs. Icons on glass,
written without observance of church regulations, were associated not only with
religion but also with folk life and aesthetic preferences and were used for interiors
of rural homes. Such icons are often called folk painting on glass. These glass
icons were usually placed not in the church but in peasants’ houses or modest
chapels near the road. They had mostly decorative character and brought light and
bright colors into dark peasant dwellings.

D
Among the main peculiarities of Ukrainian
painting on glass are bright colors, rich decorative
features and flatness of the image. The arsenal of
figurative tools is minimal: a graphic line, a limited
palette of local colors - red and black, white and
blue, yellow and green.

E Ukrainian painting on glass reflects rich

cultural traditions of our country, folk tastes, social motives, mix of fantasy and
reality. Among the modern artists who work with glass are Ivan Skolozdra (Lviv
region), Anastasiia Rak (Poltava), Leontii Hryniu (Vinnytsia) and other craftsmen.
They contribute to the cultural heritage of Ukrainian folk art.

Vocabulary:
      

decorative and applied art – декоративно-ужиткове мистецтво

folk crafts – народні промисли

aesthetic tastes – естетичні смаки

environmental phenomena – явища навколишнього середовища

secular – світський

religious – релігійний

original figs – самобутні риси

church regulations – церковні приписи

rural – сільський

chapel – каплиця

peasant dwelling – житло селян

peculiarities – особливості

flatness of the image – площинність зображення

figurative tools – зображувальні засоби

cultural heritage – культурна спадщина

READING
Pre-reading activities
1. Look at the title of the text and answer the questions:
1. What is decorative and applied art? What is it used for?
2. Have you ever seen icons painted on glass?
3. What do you know about modern glass painting?
While-reading activities
2. Read the text quickly and match headings 1-5 with paragraphs A- E:
1. Decorative character of glass icons
2. Modern artists
3. The origin of painting on glass
4. Two directions of Ukrainian glass painting development
5. The main peculiarities of Ukrainian painting on glass
3. Read the text again and complete the sentences:
1. Painting on glass is one of the ancient ____
a) aesthetic tastes b) folk crafts c) artistic traditions d) environmental phenomena
2. Painting on glass became widespread in Ukraine at the beginning of ____
a) the XIX century b) the XVII century c) the XVIII century d) the XX century
3. In Ukraine painting on glass had two directions: _____
a) secular and peasant b) modern and religious c) secular and religious d) artistic and scientific

4. Icons on glass were associated with religion and also with folk life and were used for ____
a) interiors of urban homes b) church decoration
c) peasant dwellings decoration d) interior of cultural establishments
5. Among the main peculiarities of Ukrainian painting on glass are bright colors, rich decorative
features and ____
a) flatness of the image b) volume of the image c) minimalistic design d) festive look
6. Ukrainian painting on glass reflects rich cultural traditions, folk tastes, social motives and ___
a) mix of bright and dark colors b) different religious beliefs
c) combination of figurative tools d) mix of fantasy and reality
Post-reading activities
4. Choose the suitable definitions to the highlighted words
from the text:
1. The works of art of a certain nation that became traditional
2. Popular and frequently used
3. Village countryside
4. Special characteristic features
5. Artists who are involved into a certain folk art