Romanian art consists of thevisual andplastic arts (includingRomanian architecture, woodwork, textiles, and ceramics) originating from the geographical area ofRomania. The production of art in Romania is as old as the Paleolithic, an example beinga cave painting from theCuciulat Cave (Sălaj County).^[1] During theNeolithic, multiple cultures lived on the modern territory of Romania. Theirmaterial culture included pottery and abstract clay statuettes decorated with geometric patterns. These may give hints on the way these civilizations used to dress and maybe tattoo. A good examples of this is the Thinker of Hamangia, a clay figurine produced by theHamangia culture. Important cultures of the Neolithic era includeStarčevo–Körös–Criș,Boian,Gumelnița–Karanovo, and other ones, the most famous and at the same time the most evolved among them in art being theCucuteni–Trypillia culture.^[2] DuringAntiquity, theGeto-Dacians produced art and built multiple cities of thedava type (like Sucidava, Argedava or Buridava).Greek colonies appear inDobruja, includingTomis (present-dayConstanța), andMangalia (present-dayMangalia). After theDacian Wars (101–102, 105–106),EmperorTrajan transformed a big part ofDacia into a province of theRoman Empire. The province underwent an intense process ofRomanization (aka Latinization).^[3]

Between the 5th and the 8th centuries, the process ofRomanian etnogenesis takes place. This era is labeled by scientist aspre-Medieval orpre-Feudal.^[4] Since Romania was and is anEastern Orthodox country, its medieval art was heavily influenced by theByzantine Empire. The Renaissance has a quite loose influence inWallachia andMoldavia. During the reign ofConstantin Brâncoveanu (1688-1714), theBrâncovenesc style appears, also known asBrâncovenesc Baroque, because it usedBaroque elements from West Europe andOttoman ones.^[5] The 19th century was one of change. Together with the 20th, it marked the transition from medieval to modern. Across these centuries, multiple Romanian artists and architects study at West European universities, particularly in Paris.Gheorghe Tattarescu is representative forNeoclassicism, as well asNicolae Grigorescu is forImpressionism. This shift is also reflected in the architecture of cities, which started to look more European,Neoclassical andBeaux-Arts architecture being very popular in late 19th and early 20th centuries. Later, Romania remains connected with the West, trends and styles such asArt Nouveau,Art Deco orBauhaus being as fashionable here as in West Europe.

The present-day territory of Romania was inhabited by various cultures during Prehistory. The first objects featuring abstract geometric ornaments are from theLate Paleolithic and earlyMesolithic, discovered in 1966 in theIron Gates area, in settlements at Cuina Turcului,Schela Cladovei, Ostrovul Banatului etc. Usually these are household items with simple geometric incisions. Acave painting was discovered in theCuciulat Cave (Sălaj County), probably dating from the Late Paleolithic.

During theNeolithic era, various cultures populated the current territory of Romania. Just like in the rest of Europe, the Neolithic starts in area of Romania in the 4th millennium BC. Scientists think that at the beginning of the Neolithic, migratory populations come here fromWest Asia, which will remain here and fuse with the locals from Mesolithic. Human communities make a transition to sedentary life. They left us pottery and abstract clay statuettes decorated with geometric patterns, that may give us hints on the way these civilizations used to dress and maybe tattoo. Just like art Palaeolithic art, Neolithic artworks are decorated with abstract geometric patterns, lines and spirals. Some of them may had religious or magical meanings. However, there's a big chance of these geometric ornaments having a purely decorative purpose, without any deep meaning.

The first Neolithic culture, known as theStarčevo–Körös–Criș culture has spread all across the territory of present-day Romania, and produced many ceramic objects, especially vessels, but alsozoomorphic andanthropomorphic figures. After it, theVinča-Turdaș,Boian,Vădastra,Hamangia,Gumelnița–Karanovo,Cernavodă cultures and other ones lived simultaneous in different areas. Chronologically, the Vinča-Turdaș is the earliest one from the list. It produced highly stylized anthropomorphic statuettes. The Hamangia culture that inhabitedDobruja produced ceramic figurines too. A really famous one, known as theThinker of Hamangia, depicts, as the name suggests, a man thinking, staying on a small chair, with his elbows on the knees. Because of its expressiveness, the figure is one of the most iconic Romanian artworks.

The most famous Neolithic culture isCucuteni–Trypillia. It produced manypolychrome vessels in various shapes. All these vessels show the precision of the Neolithic people, sincepotter's wheel wasn't invented it, and so all these objects were produced manually. Just like any other culture of its time, it used geometric ornaments to decorate its artifacts, including sinuous lines,spirals,ovals combined with zigzags, andrhombi. The colours used for these vessels include white, red and/or chocolate black, used in various shades, since these they can be bicoloured or tricoloured.

Neolithic cultures are succeeded by the ones ofBronze Age, initially characterized by inferior artistic elements if we compare it to Cucuteni art. New architectural elements appear, especially in military structures. Besidesbordei, which were specific to Neolithic settlements, fortifications appear. In one of these Bronze Age settlements, the one discovered atMonteoru (Buzău County), there are stone walls and defence towers. Ceramic, although in absence of ornamentation like in Neolithic times, starts to change too. Gold,bronze andcopper vessels are produced. In a short interval of tine, in comparison with themillennia of Neolithic art, a few cultures of a high technical and artistic level develop on the territory of Romania. Bronze Age cultures includeSighișoara-Wietenberg,Verbicioara,Monteoru,Ottomány andŽuto Brdo - Gârla Mare.^[6]

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  Cave painting, probably from the Late Paleolithic, pigment on stone, Cuciulat Cave,Sălaj County
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  The Thinker, by theHamangia culture,c. 5000 BC, terracotta,National Museum of Romanian History,Bucharest^[7]
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  The Sitting Woman, by the Hamangia culture,c. 5000 BC, terracotta, National Museum of Romanian History[8]
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  The Goddess from Vidra, by theGumelnița–Karanovo culture,c. 4700-3950 BC, ceramic,Bucharest Municipal Museum
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  Female figure, by theVinča culture,c. 4500-3500 BC, fired clay with paint,Cleveland Museum of Art,Ohio, USA
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  Polychrome vessels (from left to right): a bowl on stand, a vessel on stand and an amphora, by theCucuteni–Trypillia culture,c. 4300–4000 BC, fired clay with paint,Palace of Culture,Iași,Romania
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  Vessel, by theBoian culture,c. 4300–3500 BC, ceramic, Bucharest Municipal Museum

• List of Romanian artists
• For information about Romanian literature, see:Romanian literature
• For information about Romanian history, see:History of Romania
• For other topics on Romanian culture, see:Romanian culture

• Vasile Florea:Arta Românească de la Origini până în PrezentISBN 978-606-33-1053-9

• Romanian art

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