Reverse Glass Painting, An Almost Lost Art.

Black Rose II

Today reverse glass painting is considered a folk art.  Like many such arts, reverse glass painting traces back over several centuries.  


This art was nearly forgotten during the 19^th and early part of the 20^th centuries due to several factors ranging from totalitarian regimes and modern styles moving beyond traditional methods.  In the last several years, newer generations have sought to relearn- or recreate - this art.     

Reverse glass painting is a straight forward, but for many counter intuitive, art form.   The image is created by working in the reverse order to a typical painting or drawing.  Final finishing details such as shading, texture, forefront objects or shapes are painted first with the rest of the image added later.   

In the image of the Black Rose II above, the white swells, sails and clouds were painted first before the water and rest of the ship were painted in.  

Today, reverse glass painting is a thriving folk art ranging from the traditional religious and sacral images to more secular subjects.

 

More of my favorite reverse paintings are shown below: 

South Korean Fan Dancer, Solo.

Daisies