Icoanele pe sticlă de la meșteșug popular, la operă de artă
Glass Icons: From Folk Craft to Work of Art

Summary/Abstract: This paper explores the development of Transylvanian glass icons, tracing their evolution from a vernacular craft to a distinct artistic tradition. It outlines the main scholarly perspectives on the origins and dissemination of reverse glass painting in Central and Eastern Europe, emphasizing the influences of Tyrol, Bohemia, Bavaria, Austria, and the Hutterite communities. In the Romanian context, the practice became established in the eighteenth century, with the miraculous icon of the Mother of God from Nicula serving as a key cultural landmark. The study also examines the technical and stylistic features of reverse glass painting, including the use of mirrored drawing, the sequential application of colors, the reliance on pattern sheets (izvoade), and the expressive naïve aesthetic characteristic of this tradition. Through both historical analysis and practical reflection, the paper highlights the cultural, spiritual, and artistic significance of glass icons within the broader framework of Romanian folk religiosity and visual culture.

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