Traces of folk culture in İon Țuculescu’ paintings

Abstract

The trauma caused by World War II in societies left deep traces in the world of art as well as it caused damage in several areas. This situation was experienced both in western European and eastern European art of painting.

As a result of the historical events, the new administrative order in the post-war Romania deeply affected the work situation by dividing the world of Romanian artists. By assuming socialist realism trend, some artists acknowledged the administrative form of the new state, and some artists displayed a different view through symbols. Apart from some artists who gave up painting, there were also those who maintained artistic production without disclosing any political views. Of these, İon Țuculescu’s (1910-1962) works resided neither in the socialist realism trend nor did they include any symbols that opposed the ideology. The artist, who graduated from medicine and biology faculties with the accumulation coming from various fields, contributed plastic value to the elements of folk culture by creating an authentic expression style that was not used in Romanian art of painting before by benefiting from folk culture and blending local and cultural values. Thus, Țuculescu succeeded in becoming a distinctive artist in Romanian art of painting.

The aim of this study is to reveal under what conditions and how İon Țuculescu, who benefited from folk culture, formed his artistic achievements. In addition, after analysing the paintings, the study will present his authentic stand in the Romanian art of painting through biographical information.