American Folk art showcases cultural identities and traditions. It reflects a unification of technique, aesthetics, and ethnic values through creative expression. Different nations have their own distinct folk painting traditions practiced by their indigenous groups.
American folk painting culture came into existence with the rise of the Industrial Revolution in America in the 19th century. Common people filled their homes with art showcasing objects of everyday use and thus gave birth to the art of common man. This amateur, self-taught, and non-conventional art style is recognized as American Folk Art.
Painting, pottery, sculpture, woodcraft, textile art, metalwork and others together can be included in folk art. Folk art represents everyday life, family, celebration, community, religion, etc.
Sharply defined symmetrical portraits, neat and geometrically formed agrarian landscapes and vibrant decorative motifs are outlining features of American folk-art paintings.
In the 1920’s, American folk-art paintings caught the attention of art collectors whose patronage provided it much needed recognition. These paintings, depicting the daily life of America in the 19th century are now a part of valuable collections of museums across the world.
Art prints of American folk paintings are also popular among art lovers. Let us explore some popular subjects of folk art paintings in America.
Portrait is a common subject among American folk artists. The compositions are flat, structured, and symmetrical. Along with human portraits, we see a large number of creative animal portraits in watercolour and gouache.
Bold, vibrant, textile-inspired motifs are prevalent in American folk paintings. These elaborately ornamental designs have an eccentric primitive aesthetic attached to them.
Beautiful appliques are a common sight in American folk art history, not just in textiles but also in paintings.
Floral and botanical paintings in strong colours and patterned surfaces are a recurring theme in American folk paintings.
Artists since the dawn of time have been inspired by their immediate surroundings. Folk art in America developed from common country households and therefore we see an extensive inclusion of agrarian landscapes. These works can be characterised by an absence of expressive brushwork, flatness, and overall linearity.
One can also see highly illustrative landscapes by American folk artists.
Folk paintings may be considered as naive, primitive, rural, plain or provincial but the unique skills and particular vision existing in these paintings continues as a living cultural tradition.