Albanian art

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Tirana is one of the centers of art in Albania.
This article is part of a series in
Culture of
Albania
History
People
Language
Tradition
Religion and folklore
Art
Cuisine
Festivals
  • Flag Day
  • Summer Day
Literature
Media
Sport
Symbols
 Albania  • icon Society portal


Albanian art (

Venetians and Ottomans
.

At different times,

Grama Bay and mosaic in Durrës can be traced back to the 4th century BC and there are nonetheless ancient remains of extraordinary quality available at Apollonia, Byllis, Shkodër, Butrint and elsewhere
across the country.

The centerpiece of medieval Albanian art started with the successor of the

Balkan Peninsula.[1] It comprised gradually of frescoes, murals, and icons painted with an admirable use of color and gold. Onufri, David Selenica, Kostandin Shpataraku and the Zografi Brothers are the most eminent representatives of medieval Albanian art. The Epitaph of Gllavenica, an epitaph written on a shroud, is one of the best artifacts of this genre in the Balkans
.

During the

Venetian Empire established the Scuola degli Albanesi that served as a cultural and social center for Albanians.[4]

The

Albanian Renaissance, in the field of arts, developed for the first time since the Middle Ages in rather different directions especially toward the occident and was initially dominated by the central figure of Kolë Idromeno. Painters were searching for meaning, traditions and identity, leading initially to realism and later with impressionism
.

History

Early period

A Devollian pottery from Kamenica.

Within the boundaries of the present Albanian state, there have been several

Treni Cave and numerous other sites throughout Albania.[5][6][7]

During the Bronze Age, a number of Illyrian and Ancient Greek tribes started to emerge itself on the territory of Albania and established several artistic centers at the same time. Terracotta was widely used by both cultures most notably for reliefs and other architectural purposes. Quite a number of terracotta figures, among others from the Illyrians, were found near Belsh but besides that as well throughout Albania.[8][9][10]

The art of

Ancient Greek pottery.[13][14]

From earliest times

Adriatic and the Ionian Sea. The earliest examples of mosaic flooring date to the ancient period are housed in Apollonia
,
polychromatic mosaic mainly made of multicolored pebbles.[16]
It has a marvelous grace of its figure and great excellence of artistic creativity.

The

symbolic art. Roman sculpture was largely influenced by the sculptures of Greece and the Etruscan civilization whereas impressive examples can be mostly found in the cities of Apollonia and Butrint
, which flourished during that period.

Medieval Byzantine period

The Epitaph of Gllavenica is often considered the highlight of medieval Albanian art that was commissioned by Gjergj Arianiti in 1373.

When the

Eastern Roman Empire that was conventionally known as the Byzantine Empire. The Byzantine art, the art of the Eastern Roman Empire from about the 5th century until the fall of Constantinople in 1453, was predominantly marked by religious expressions and a renewed interest in techniques of the Roman Empire mixed with the themes of Christianity
.

sacred building interior walls, floors and domes increased and expanded in size and importance. The use of gold and bright colors
was important indeed each color had its own value and meaning. In addition, colors were never mixed together but were always used pure.

The earliest icons of Albania date from the thirteenth century and generally estimated that their artistic peak reached in the eighteenth century.[1] No paintings before the thirteenth century, produced by Albanians, have been located to date.[1] Nonetheless few older structures in the country house different collections of paintings dating to the Byzantine period.

Memory of the World Register
in 2005.

By the fifteenth century after the

Post-Byzantine art. In that period many valuable monuments and artifacts were made by Albanian painters. Innovation in iconography was enriched with new artistic elements. [17] [18]

Fresco of Saint Stephen by David Selenica.

The most famous Albanian painter was

Voskopojë, and Korçë
.

The

Ottoman period of Albania during the fifteenth century is traditionally said to have had a negative impact on Albanian art and so the influences of Renaissance were extinguished. This influence was absorbed and reinterpreted with an extensive construction of mosques that opened a new section in Albanian art, that of Islamic art.[19] This style of art was usually portrayed by the highest degree of motifs, arabesques and ornamentation of interlacing geometrical patterns of polygons, circles and interlocked lines and curves. The Ottoman Empire's cultural influence affected many aspects of Albanian cultural life. Despite local traditions, Ottoman visual culture had an impact on local culture, especially in introducing models of visual representation, new themes in mural paintings and new patterns of decorations.[20]

Albanian Renaissance

See also:
Albanian Renaissance
Motra Tone by Kolë Idromeno.

In the nineteenth century, a significant era for Albanian art begins. The great liberation acts starting with

artistic movement, which would reflect life and history more realistically and Impressionism and Realism came into dominance.[21]

Kolë Idromeno is perhaps the most famous of the Realist painters in the country and often considered as the introducer of Realism in Albania.[22] Some artists captured the historical past and identity of Albanians in landscapes of vast forests, wide rivers, pristine lakes as well as portraits. Other artists have been focused on social criticism, showing the conditions of the people. By the early twentieth century, a radical artistic change occurred and experienced a patriotic renaissance. The year 1883 is dominated and celebrated for the creation of the most crucial and finest paintings The Portrait of Skanderbeg by Jorgji Panariti and Motra Tone by Kolë Idromeno.

Impressionism did not make itself evident among Albanian artists until after 1900. It did inspire numerous painters among them Vangjush Mio, the first impressionist painter of Albania.

By the middle of the twentieth century, a

communist government took rule over Albania and the artwork that arrived during the communist era reflects its time. Art was censored by the government and artists were urged to create works that endorsed socialism. The dominant theme of Albanian paintings was the proletariat
, the backbone of the socialist system. Much of the country's art focused on domestic scenes such as men working in the fields and women feeding chickens. Also, landscape scenes were highly popularized by Albanian painters.

Modern period

Detail of female partisan in battle, National History Museum, Tirana, Albania

Although Albania left communism for democracy in 1991, scholars currently label Albanian artwork under the category of "

realistic
in its depiction of everyday life. Such works can be found at the National Arts Gallery of Albania and the National History Museum both located in Tirana. Contemporary Albanian artwork captures the struggle of everyday Albanians, however, new artists are utilizing different artistic styles to convey this message. Albanian artists continue to move art forward, while their art still remains distinctively Albanian in content.

Alt post-modernism was only introduced fairly recently among Albanian artists, there are a number of artists and works known internationally. Among the most famous Albanian post-modernists are Anri Sala, Sislej Xhafa, Adrian Paci, Oltsen Gripshi, Vénera Kastrati and Helidon Gjergji.

Post-modern tendencies among Albanians were first spotted during the 1980s in Kosovo.[23]

Sculptures of national icons became popular throughout the country. In 1968, Sculptor Odhise Paskali (with help from fellow sculptors Andrea Mana and Janaq Paço) constructed a monument of Skanderbeg, Albania's national hero, in honor of the 500th anniversary of his death, and it is placed in the center of the capital city of Tirana.

The Tirana Biennale is the main contemporary, international art event. Founded in 2001 by Edi Muka, Gezim Qëndro, and Giancarlo Politi, it has enjoyed over the years the contribution of many international curators, like Francesco Bonami, Adela Demetja, Massimiliano Gioni, Jens Hoffmann, Hans Ulrich Obrist, and Harald Szeemann. Many famous Albanian and foreign artists are usually invited.[24]

Dedications

Through different times, various

Albanian people
.

The Albanian dancers by Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps.
Butrinto painted in 1861 by Edward Lear.
Siege of Shkodër painted in 1585 by Paolo Veronese.

In 1585, the

Italian Renaissance painter, Paolo Veronese dedicated a painting illustrating the Siege of Shkodër from the Middle Ages to the Shkodrans, which is housed on the ceiling of the Doge's Palace in Venice, Italy.[25]

In 1809, the

traditional Albanian dress that Byron also described it the most magnificent in the world.[27]

Between 1827 and 1828, the French painter, Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps made a visit to Albania that resulted a great series of paintings illustrating the Albanians with their costumes.[28] Among his most impressive and renowned paintings include the Albanian Duel and Les Danseurs Albanais.

Another passionate British painter and poet include Edward Lear who travelled to Albania in 1848 where he was impressively inspired by Albanian landscapes.[29] He lavishly created a grandiose collection of paintings and drawings that depicted the culture, the traditions and lands of the Albanians exactly as it appeared.[15]

Individual works were created even earlier by distinguished authors such as Ary Scheffer (Gratë Suliote), Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot (L'Albanaise), Eugène Delacroix (several works), Jean-Léon Gérôme (several works), John Singer Sargent (Albanian Olive Pickers), Amedeo Preziosi (Albanians Mercenaries), Erwin Speckter (Portrait of an Albanian women), Charles Bargue (Head of Young man) and William Linton (Albanian Mountains).

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Art of Albania.

Further reading

  • Brewer, Bob. My Albania. New York: Lion of Tepelena P, 1992.
  • Halliday, Jon. The Artful Albanian. London: Rowland, 1986.
  • Pollo, Stefanaq, and Arben Puto. The history of Albania: from its origins to the present day. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1981.
  • Muka, Edi. Albania Today. The Time of ironic Optimism. Milan, Politi Editore, 1997.
  • Schwander-Sievers, Stephanie, and Bernd J. Fischer. Albanian Identities. London:
    Hurst & Company
    , 2002.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Icons from the Orthodox Communities of Albania - COLLECTION OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MEDIEVAL ART, KORCË" (PDF). helios-eie.ekt.gr. p. 20.
  2. ^ Walker Art Gallery. Annual Report and Bulletin of the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool. Andrea Alessi, architect and sculptor, was a native of Durazzo in Albania and possibly of local rather than Italian origin.
  3. ^ Babinger, Franz (1962). "L'origine albanese del pittore Marco Basaiti (ca. 1470 - ca. 1530)". Atti. Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti, Classe di Scienze Morali e Lettere. CXX: 497–500.
  4. ISBN 9780300121889
    .
  5. ^ Ceka 2013, p. 25.
  6. ^ Templer 2016, p. 227.
  7. ^ Templer 2016, p. 221.
  8. doi:10.1002/xrs.945
    .
  9. ^ John Bagnell Bury; Stanley Arthur Cook; Frank Ezra Adcock (1996). The Cambridge Ancient History: The Augustan Empire, 43 B.C.-A.D. 69, 2nd ed., 1996 - Band 10 von The Cambridge Ancient History, Iorwerth Eiddon Stephen Edwards. University Press, 1996.
  10. ^ "Bashkia Belsh". qarkuelbasan.gov.al (in Albanian). Retrieved 10 December 2010.
  11. ISBN 9780815550525
    .
  12. ISBN 9780520920262
    .
  13. ISBN 9780521224963
    .
  14. ISBN 9781317606000
    .
  15. ^ a b c d Ferid Hudhri. "2.10. FINE /VISUAL ARTS" (PDF). seda.org.al. p. 2.[permanent dead link]
  16. ^ Fjalori Enciklopedik Shqiptar, Akademia e Shkencave - Tiranë, 1984 (MOZAIKU I DURRËSIT ME PORTRETIN E NJE GRUAJE, page 726)
  17. ^ "KONFERENCA E DYTË E STUDIMEVE ALBANOLOGJIKE" (PDF). albanianorthodox.com (in Albanian). Tirana. p. 2.
  18. ^ Dorina Arapi. "Visual representations of Constantinople/ Istanbul and other images in mural paintings and artifacts of the late Ottoman centuries in Albania". researchgate.net.
  19. ^ Edmond Manahasa; İlknur Aktug Kolay. "Observations on the existing Ottoman mosques in Albania" (PDF). az.itu.edu.tr. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-09-27. Retrieved 2018-02-14.
  20. ^ Dorina Arapi. "Visual representations of Constantinople/ Istanbul and other images in mural paintings and artifacts of the late Ottoman centuries in Albania". researchgate.net.
  21. ISBN 9780761418528
    .
  22. ISBN 978-9992753675
    .
  23. ^ "Shkëlzen Maliqi, Umelec Magazine". Archived from the original on 2008-02-06. Retrieved 2009-09-18.
  24. ^ TICA
  25. ISBN 9789995687779
    .
  26. ^ John Galt (1835). The life of Lord Byron. Harvard University: Harper & Brothers, 1835. pp. 96–100.
  27. ISBN 9783990120736
    .
  28. ISBN 9780824027148
    .
  29. ISBN 9780810873803
    .

Sources

External links

  • Hudhri, Ferit. "Fine Arts in Albania: An Outline of Figurative Art in Albania Over the Centuries." Sustainable Economic Development Agency. 2 December 2005 [1].
  • Institute for Auslandsbeziehungen. 20 November 2005 [2].
  • Alb@rt. 20 November 2005 [3].