Telltale Colours - Hungarian Folk Art

In what way are folk songs different from other songs, and folk art different from fine art or applied arts? The answer is quite simple: both reflect a traditional folk way of thinking and imagery. The material culture of Hungarian people developed during many centuries of peasantry. Objects decorated with folk symbols with artistic skilfulness, which are today considered interesting rarities, used to represent necessities of everyday life, and their ornaments were in perfect harmony with their forms and materials.
    Usually they talk about Hungarian folk art as a unified whole, whereas the ornaments carry many different motives and meanings depending on the region they originate from. The Palóc people in north-eastern Hungary prepared simple hand-woven fabrics, while the women of Sárköz were famous of their refined weaving techniques. It is easy to distinguish between the colourful embroideries made in Kalocsa and the Matyó motives made in the area around Mezõkövesd, where mainly blue and red threads were used in designs made before the middle of the 19th century. Objects decorated with geometric shapes make one wonder about the past, and the relief carvings that depict merry scenes represent the art of carvers from Transdanubia.
    Each one of the motives and colours has its meaning. The only colour we find in the oldest embroideries and hand-woven fabrics is red, which was primarily used to express joy, passion and high spirits. In the old days, red was considered to have a protective power: it was associated to life and blood, fire which gives or takes life, and light. It was believed to protect infants from witches and their evil eye. The red bonnet or headdress worn by brides and young women as part of their folk costume expressed health and youth. White was generally used to express clearness and innocence, but for instance n southern Somogy county it could also reflect old age and paleness, which is why it was also the colour of mourning. Blue and green were also often associated with ageing, which is indicated by the fact that most young women did not wear those colours. In addition to old age, dark blue represented wisdom, sensibleness, love of peace and reconciliation with the world.
    A combination of dark blue and white was very important in the folk ornaments of German people living in Hungary, because it was associated with calmness and usefulness. Medium green was a sign of spring, hopefulness and renewal in folk art: a meaning of improved fertility was attributed to leafy branches. They often used green for ceramics and furniture, and it was the symbol of shepherds living outdoors. Yellow was the colour of burning sun, which brings fading and evanescence, which is why it was not popular in folk ornaments. Black was usually the symbol of mourning, but for instance the Palóc people in Hollókõ used black bed linen on festive occasions. Before the First World War, the wedding dress was black in most areas of Hungary.
    Decorative folk art started becoming multi-coloured only in the middle of the 19th century. Embroidery made in Kalocsa, which used to include only white, black red and blue cotton yarns in the old days, has as many as twenty-two shades of colour today. Folk art again flourishes, and we may come across its objects almost everywhere we go. The Craft Fair in the Buda Castle is held on August 16-20 each year, and it provides a most imposing overview of folk art. All objects presented here need to be approved by a jury, and almost every craft is represented. In addition to buying the objects, spectators can also try their hands on making them. They all get a chance to try weaving, pottery, egg-painting, and even horseshoe-making, or basketwork.