Vietnam Folk Paintings

Vietnam folk paintings are divided into two main categories, namely Tet paintings and worshiping paintings appeared nearly at the same time with belief of worshiping ancestors of Viet people and consecrating nature. Under Ly dynasty (12th century) it appeared a family or a village to carve forms producing paintings. Under Le So, paintings production was further improved. In Mac dynasty (16th century), the folk painting was not only products of the peasant but also a favorite art of patrician in Thang Long capital and it was hung on the occasion of Tet holiday. During 18th - 19th century, painting job was widely spread over the country. At the same time, the different type of painting was divided into Dong Ho paining, Hang Trong painting, Kim Hoang painting in the North, Sinh village painting in the central part, with their own style.

Although there are different types of paintings, all are shaped by slices, color piece around the painting. Each type of painting has its own color making and mixing from natural materials. Dong Ho painting usually has from 3 to 4 colors: bead-tree charcoal creating black color, copper rust creating blue color, flowery creating red color, indigo creating lightly blue color, yellow color created from flowery or gardenia jasminoides ellis, the sparkle white color created from grinded oyster covers, etc. The black color of Hang Trong painting is made from sticky rice astray or bamboo leaves ash that is well sullen, the yellow color from flowery, indigo color from natural materials, ochre from grinded gravel. Such colors are mixed with traditional glue thus creating a sparkle and pure color for Hang Trong painting. Painters use method of form-carving then print the painting. The forms are mainly made by wood. First, painter will carve onto the form with prominent stroke as the main lines of the painting and after printing out by paper, they further decorate to complete the painting. The art of printing by carved forms is passed from generation to generation.

Apart from paintings types using method of carving, there exists handy painting. The direct painting is mainly made by ethnic minorities of Tay, Nung, Dao, etc in the Northern mountainous area. Painting is usually printed or directly drawn onto Nepal paper. The characteristic of this paper is that it is very durable, spongy, light, non-wetness, non-worm, moist, and long-lasting over the time. Folk painting theme is very diversifying and rural: mice wedding party, chickens, coconut-picking, jealousy making, drum-carrying, wresting, etc. Each painting carries out its own human life, representing various stages of people's mind and expectation to be full and happy.

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