Rosemaling
Encyclopedia
Rosemåling, or rosemaling, Norwegian for "decorative painting", (applied decoration or embellishment, decorative, decorated (rosut, rosute, rosete, rosa) and "å måle, å male" to paint) is the name of a form of decorative folk art that originated in the rural valleys of Norway
.
Some art historians interpret "rose" as a reference to the rose flower, although the floral elements are often so stylized that no specific flower is identifiable and not used at all in some designs. Rosemåling is a style of decorative painting on wood that uses stylized flower ornamentation, scrollwork, lining and geometric elements, often in flowing patterns. Landscape and architectural elements are also common. Many other decorative painting techniques were used such as glazing, spattering, marbelizing, manipulating the paint with the fingers or other objects, etc.
Rosemaling is also common in Sweden
(swedish: rosmålning) where it is also, incorrectly, called kurbitsmålning or simply kurbits
, where kurbits refers to depictions of Cucurbita
. As with the Norwegian counterpart it was most popular from the latter half of the 18th century and until the 1860s.
particularly in the Telemark
and Hallingdal
, but also in Numedal
and Setesdal
and in other valleys in Vest-Agder
, Hordaland
, Sogn og Fjordane
and Rogaland
. It came into existence around 1750, when Baroque
and Rococo
, artistic styles of the upper class, were introduced into Norway's rural culture.
Rosemåling designs use C and S strokes and feature scroll and flowing lines, floral designs, and both subtle and vibrant colors. Script lettering, scenes, animal and human figures may also be included. Artists who specialized in rosemåling often came from poorer classes in the countryside. They would travel from county to county painting churches, homes and furnishings for a commission of either money or merely room and board. Thus rosemåling was carried over the mountains and toward Norway's western coast. Once farther away from the influence of the painters' guild, these artists tried new ideas and motifs. Rosemåling became widespread as amateur artists in rural areas often imitated this folk art. Soon strong regional styles developed and today the three main styles are Telemark
, Hallingdal
and Rogaland
, named after the regions in which each originated.
Rosemaling is, in a sense, the two-dimensional counterpart of acanthus
carving, since it is clear that the C and S curves in rosemaling take there inspiration from the acanthus carvings of Baroque and Rococo art and the acanthus carvings in the rural churches (e.g., the altar reredos
es and pulpits) and homes (e.g., cupboards) were painted in the same bright colors as used in rosemaling. While in the cities these acanthus carvings were generally gilt, the rural artisans did not have ready access to gold leaf
as their urban counterparts and so painted their carvings in the bright colors popular in rural communities (e.g., Norwegian rural dress, Cf. bunad
). Like rosemaling, acanthus carving has had a cultural revival in recent times as both a means of interior design (e.g., on furniture, picture frames, door and window frames, etc.) and as a personal hobby, although most modern day acanthus carving is left unpainted and unvarnished.
One of the anecdotes told about the Nazi occupation of Norway (1940-1945) is that at a time when the public display of the Norwegian flag or the State Coat of Arms could bring imprisonment or even death, the Norwegians discovered that they could display the 'H' overlapping the '7' of the royal cypher
of their exiled king, Haakon VII
, at the center of a rosemaling design without the German occupation forces seeing anything but a colorful peasant design. Christmas cards with the royal cypher at the center of a rosemaling design were especially popular and many have survived and their history documented.
since many of the immigrants came from parts of Norway where rosemaling was well established. They often carried their belongings in beautifully painted trunks. Some of the immigrants were Rosemaling painters. This generation, however, contributed little to the development of American rosemaling in the 20th century, because rosemaling began to go out of style starting in 1860.
Rosemaling experienced its revival in America in the 20th century. Norwegian-Americans became interested in the rosemaling decorated possessions of their ancestors. American rosemaling began to develop and flourish. The revival of Rosemaling in the United States is often credited to Per Lysne
who was born in Norway and trained in Rosemaling. He came to America in the early 20th Century and was employed as a wagon painter in Stoughton, Wisconsin
. When business slowed during the Great Depression
, he began Rosemaling again. Today Norwegian rosemaling is taught in many areas of the USA. Rosemaling associations sponsor classes and competitions.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
.
Some art historians interpret "rose" as a reference to the rose flower, although the floral elements are often so stylized that no specific flower is identifiable and not used at all in some designs. Rosemåling is a style of decorative painting on wood that uses stylized flower ornamentation, scrollwork, lining and geometric elements, often in flowing patterns. Landscape and architectural elements are also common. Many other decorative painting techniques were used such as glazing, spattering, marbelizing, manipulating the paint with the fingers or other objects, etc.
Rosemaling is also common in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
(swedish: rosmålning) where it is also, incorrectly, called kurbitsmålning or simply kurbits
Kurbits
The kurbits is an invented, fantastical symbol of vegetal fertility based on a gourd or pumpkin of biblical legend, principally used for ornamentation in Swedish folk art and on painted furniture and domestic objects...
, where kurbits refers to depictions of Cucurbita
Cucurbita
Cucurbita is a genus in the gourd family Cucurbitaceae first cultivated in Mesoamerica and now used in many parts of the world. It includes species grown for their fruit and edible seeds , as well as some species grown only as gourds...
. As with the Norwegian counterpart it was most popular from the latter half of the 18th century and until the 1860s.
History in Norway
Rosemåling in Norway originated in the low-land areas of eastern NorwayNorway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
particularly in the Telemark
Telemark
is a county in Norway, bordering Vestfold, Buskerud, Hordaland, Rogaland and Aust-Agder. The county administration is in Skien. Until 1919 the county was known as Bratsberg amt.-Location:...
and Hallingdal
Hallingdal
Hallingdal is a valley and traditional district in Buskerud county in Norway. It consists of the municipalities of Flå, Nes, Gol, Hemsedal, Ål and Hol.-History:Ancient routes went to Vestlandet through Valdres and Hallingdal and down Røldal to Odda...
, but also in Numedal
Numedal
Numedal is a traditional district and valley Buskerud, Norway. Running north–south, it extends between Kongsberg in the south to Rødberg in the north, passing through the municipalities of Kongsberg, Flesberg, Rollag and Nore og Uvdal.. The river Numedalslågen, the third-longest in the country,...
and Setesdal
Setesdal
Setesdal is a valley and a traditional district in Aust-Agder County in southern Norway. It consists of the municipalities of Bykle, Valle, Bygland, Iveland, and Evje og Hornnes....
and in other valleys in Vest-Agder
Vest-Agder
In the 16th century, Dutch merchant vessels began to visit ports in southern Norway to purchase salmon and other goods. Soon thereafter the export of timber began, as oak from southern Norway was exceptionally well suited for shipbuilding...
, Hordaland
Hordaland
is a county in Norway, bordering Sogn og Fjordane, Buskerud, Telemark and Rogaland. Hordaland is the third largest county after Akershus and Oslo by population. The county administration is located in Bergen...
, Sogn og Fjordane
Sogn og Fjordane
is a county in Norway, bordering Møre og Romsdal, Oppland, Buskerud, and Hordaland. The county administration is in the town of Hermansverk in Leikanger municipality while the largest town is Førde....
and Rogaland
Rogaland
is a county in Western Norway, bordering Hordaland, Telemark, Aust-Agder and Vest-Agder. It is the center of the Norwegian petroleum industry, and as a result of this, Rogaland has the lowest unemployment rate of any county in Norway, 1.1%...
. It came into existence around 1750, when Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
and Rococo
Rococo
Rococo , also referred to as "Late Baroque", is an 18th-century style which developed as Baroque artists gave up their symmetry and became increasingly ornate, florid, and playful...
, artistic styles of the upper class, were introduced into Norway's rural culture.
Rosemåling designs use C and S strokes and feature scroll and flowing lines, floral designs, and both subtle and vibrant colors. Script lettering, scenes, animal and human figures may also be included. Artists who specialized in rosemåling often came from poorer classes in the countryside. They would travel from county to county painting churches, homes and furnishings for a commission of either money or merely room and board. Thus rosemåling was carried over the mountains and toward Norway's western coast. Once farther away from the influence of the painters' guild, these artists tried new ideas and motifs. Rosemåling became widespread as amateur artists in rural areas often imitated this folk art. Soon strong regional styles developed and today the three main styles are Telemark
Telemark
is a county in Norway, bordering Vestfold, Buskerud, Hordaland, Rogaland and Aust-Agder. The county administration is in Skien. Until 1919 the county was known as Bratsberg amt.-Location:...
, Hallingdal
Hallingdal
Hallingdal is a valley and traditional district in Buskerud county in Norway. It consists of the municipalities of Flå, Nes, Gol, Hemsedal, Ål and Hol.-History:Ancient routes went to Vestlandet through Valdres and Hallingdal and down Røldal to Odda...
and Rogaland
Rogaland
is a county in Western Norway, bordering Hordaland, Telemark, Aust-Agder and Vest-Agder. It is the center of the Norwegian petroleum industry, and as a result of this, Rogaland has the lowest unemployment rate of any county in Norway, 1.1%...
, named after the regions in which each originated.
Rosemaling is, in a sense, the two-dimensional counterpart of acanthus
Acanthus (ornament)
The acanthus is one of the most common plant forms to make foliage ornament and decoration.-Architecture:In architecture, an ornament is carved into stone or wood to resemble leaves from the Mediterranean species of the Acanthus genus of plants, which have deeply cut leaves with some similarity to...
carving, since it is clear that the C and S curves in rosemaling take there inspiration from the acanthus carvings of Baroque and Rococo art and the acanthus carvings in the rural churches (e.g., the altar reredos
Reredos
thumb|300px|right|An altar and reredos from [[St. Josaphat's Roman Catholic Church|St. Josaphat Catholic Church]] in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]. This would be called a [[retable]] in many other languages and countries....
es and pulpits) and homes (e.g., cupboards) were painted in the same bright colors as used in rosemaling. While in the cities these acanthus carvings were generally gilt, the rural artisans did not have ready access to gold leaf
Gold leaf
right|thumb|250px|[[Burnishing]] gold leaf with an [[agate]] stone tool, during the water gilding processGold leaf is gold that has been hammered into extremely thin sheets and is often used for gilding. Gold leaf is available in a wide variety of karats and shades...
as their urban counterparts and so painted their carvings in the bright colors popular in rural communities (e.g., Norwegian rural dress, Cf. bunad
Bunad
Bunad is an umbrella term encompassing, in its broadest sense, a range of both traditional rural garments as well modern 20th century folk costumes. In its narrow sense the word Bunad does only refer to garments constructed in the early 20th century very loosely based on tradition...
). Like rosemaling, acanthus carving has had a cultural revival in recent times as both a means of interior design (e.g., on furniture, picture frames, door and window frames, etc.) and as a personal hobby, although most modern day acanthus carving is left unpainted and unvarnished.
One of the anecdotes told about the Nazi occupation of Norway (1940-1945) is that at a time when the public display of the Norwegian flag or the State Coat of Arms could bring imprisonment or even death, the Norwegians discovered that they could display the 'H' overlapping the '7' of the royal cypher
Royal Cypher
In modern heraldry, a royal cypher is a monogram-like device of a country's reigning sovereign, typically consisting of the initials of the monarch's name and title, sometimes interwoven and often surmounted by a crown. In the case where such a cypher is used by an emperor or empress, it is called...
of their exiled king, Haakon VII
Haakon VII
Haakon VII may refer to:People* Haakon VII of Norway , King of Norway Ships* HNoMS King Haakon VII, a Royal Norwegian Navy escort ship in commission from 1942 to 1951...
, at the center of a rosemaling design without the German occupation forces seeing anything but a colorful peasant design. Christmas cards with the royal cypher at the center of a rosemaling design were especially popular and many have survived and their history documented.
History in America
Norwegian immigrants brought the art of rosemaling to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
since many of the immigrants came from parts of Norway where rosemaling was well established. They often carried their belongings in beautifully painted trunks. Some of the immigrants were Rosemaling painters. This generation, however, contributed little to the development of American rosemaling in the 20th century, because rosemaling began to go out of style starting in 1860.
Rosemaling experienced its revival in America in the 20th century. Norwegian-Americans became interested in the rosemaling decorated possessions of their ancestors. American rosemaling began to develop and flourish. The revival of Rosemaling in the United States is often credited to Per Lysne
Per Lysne
Per Lysne was an artist most associated with bringing the traditional Norwegian folk art of Rosemaling to the United States. -Biography:...
who was born in Norway and trained in Rosemaling. He came to America in the early 20th Century and was employed as a wagon painter in Stoughton, Wisconsin
Stoughton, Wisconsin
Stoughton is a city in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States and is a neighbor of Madison. It straddles the Yahara River about 20 miles southeast of the capital, Madison. Stoughton is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. When business slowed during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, he began Rosemaling again. Today Norwegian rosemaling is taught in many areas of the USA. Rosemaling associations sponsor classes and competitions.
Other sources
- Albrecht, Gary Rosemaling : reflections on the art. (G. Albrecht, Madison, Wis. 1985)
- Bergan, Donna; Linda Alexander Rosemaling patterns for Christmas tree ornaments / contribution from American rosemalers (Vesterheim, Decorah, Iowa. 1985)
- Blanck, Helen Elizabeth Rosemaling : the beautiful Norwegian art (Woodland Park Fine Arts, Saint Paul, Minn. 1975)
- Edwards, Diane Design basics for Telemark rosemaling (D. Edwards, Alamosa, Colo. 1994)
- Edwards, Sybil Decorative folk art: exciting techniques to transform everyday objects (David & Charles, London: 1994)
- Ellingsgard, Nils Norwegian rose painting in America : what the immigrants brought (Scandinavian University Press, Oslo: 1993)
- Martin, Philip Rosemaling in the Upper Midwest : a story of region & revival (Wisconsin Folk Museum, Mount Horeb, Wis. 1989)
- Miller, Margaret M.; Sigmund Aarseth' Norwegian rosemaling : decorative painting on wood (Scribners, New York: 1974)
- Liste Oram, Gayle M. Rosemaling Styles and Study, Volume 2 (Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum. 2001)