FLOWING through troubled Roumania, like a clear,
undisturbed, underground river, her peasant art, more rich and varied,
according to some authorities, than that of any of the surrounding
nations, silently testifies to the indomitable artistic genius of her men
and women of the soil.
CERTAINLY the women of Roumania can well be proud of
their heritage of needlework, and carpet weaving, for even during the most
troubled period in the history of this ravished nation, the last half of
the 18th and the first half of the 19th centuries, they brought their art
to a high peak of perfection.
THE Roumanian woman's costume is very simple, but the
wealth of handwork which decorates the Sunday clothing of even the most
humble, makes it have a richness and a beauty far in excess of its
OFTEN head veils are of a sheer material (see
illustration) embroidered in geometric designs, across both ends and down
the edges, at the sides. The stitch is probably a loose darning-stitch
such as is used in darned net, and gives the effect of lace.
STITCHES are familiar enough—chain, cross, English
embroidery, satin, scallop, Holbein, and the embossing-stitch, together
with many others. George Oprescu, in his book "Peasant Art in Roumania"
gives the following detailed description of the embossing-stitch, "used
almost without exception to work the part of the smock which lies between
the shoulder piece and the sleeve. The embossing is usually done in silk,
white like the material, grayish, or faintly yellow. . . . The thread is
visible on the right side of the material only, on the wrong side it is
"IT is then gently pulled up. The design is formed by
leaving unembroidered patches between these lines of honeycombing. The
whole thing is calculated with the utmost accuracy, for the slightest
error would distort the pattern."
IT is only possible to touch lightly on these tapestries here, and the picture is best presented by George Oprescu. He says: "—the Roumanian peasant woman weaves the hangings which are a decoration for the home, and for countless other purposes. I said 'weaves,' I should rather say 'creates,' for the making of these pictures in wool, these flower gardens which are hung upon the walls, is in every way a work of creation—the peasant woman has no pattern—a pattern would intimidate her—With the crockery ware of the plates and pitchers they enliven the peasant's house, which is somewhat gloomy owing to the small windows, and somewhat bare as a result of many wars, pillages, and other ordeals which the country has suffered. Hung on the walls, thrown across a bed or a bench, sometimes used as a table covering-these hangings are the Roumanian woman's greatest glory, the pride and joy of her home."
AMERICA has heard a great deal about Roumania and her
Balkan sisters, and is liable to hear more. This country is important,
very much so. And too, she is rich in natural resources, hitherto
exploited by strangers to her degradation.
F. Y. W.
Those wishing list of reference books used in preparation of this article send two-cent stamp for return, and address the Editor, Roumanian Issue, Needlecraft, Augusta, Maine. Belgium will be the next subject in this series appearing in the September issue.