Petrykivka Painting

Interesting fact about Petrykivka painting #1

The Art of Free People

Petrykivka was founded as a free Cossack settlement — serfdom was never known here. According to researchers, this very freedom was the main reason for the flourishing of a unique folk art — Petrykivka painting.

Interesting fact about Petrykivka painting #2

Born on the White Wall of a Ukrainian Cottage

Petrykivka painting originated as a sacred interior decoration, adorning stoves, windows, and walls. Later, it moved to paper so that even those who couldn't paint themselves could still decorate their homes. This is how modern Petrykivka painting came to be.

Interesting fact about Petrykivka painting #3

A Unique Brush Made of Cat Hair

Petrykivka masters handcraft their brushes from cat hair. Such a brush allows painting thin lines and creating the characteristic elements found only in Petrykivka painting. No cat was harmed — before trimming, the cat is treated to milk or sour cream.

Interesting fact about Petrykivka painting #4

The Finger — an Essential Tool

Viburnum berries are traditionally painted with a finger — so that the imprint of the master's hand remains visible. Fingers are also used to create various flowers, leaves, fruits, and berries. Vasyl Sokolenko, for example, created his works using only a cat-hair brush and his own fingers.

Interesting fact about Petrykivka painting #5

The First Researchers of Petrykivka

In 1911–1913, artist Yevheniia Evenbakh, commissioned by academician Dmytro Yavornytskyi, made copies of wall paintings from Petrykivka cottages. This is how the first examples reached museums and were documented. Earlier examples have not survived.

Interesting fact about Petrykivka painting #6

Four Keepers of the Tradition

Tetiana Pata, Nadiia Bilokin, Paraska Pavlenko, and Oryna Pylypenko inherited the art of house painting from their mothers and became the foundation for the revival of Petrykivka painting in the early 1930s. Their style is also known as the 'source' style.

Interesting fact about Petrykivka painting #7

1936 — the Founding of the Petrykivka School of Decorative Painting

The school was founded on the initiative of Oleksandr Statyva, an art historian and local teacher. Tetiana Pata became its first painting instructor. The school produced several generations of renowned masters — Fedir Panko, Vasyl Sokolenko, Marfa Tymchenko, and others.

Interesting fact about Petrykivka painting #8

Black Background — a Legacy of Soviet Standardization

Petrykivka painting on black backgrounds appeared in the 1950s — it was introduced at the Druzhba factory for the mass production of souvenirs. Traditionally, the painting is executed on a white background.

Interesting fact about Petrykivka painting #9

UNESCO Cultural Heritage

On December 5, 2013, Petrykivka painting became the first Ukrainian element inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Interesting fact about Petrykivka painting #10

Living Art, Not a Museum Piece

Petrykivka painting is alive and thriving today: the Center of Folk Art and the Tetiana Pata School operate in Petrykivka, studios and children's clubs are active across Ukraine, and exhibitions and masterclasses are held regularly around the world.

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Petrykivka painting is a unique Ukrainian decorative ornamental art that originated in the village of Petrykivka, Dnipropetrovsk region. In 2013, UNESCO inscribed it on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

This website is an encyclopedia of Petrykivka painting: masters, techniques, history, materials and books about this unique art form.

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