ENCAUSTIC AS AN ANCIENT PAINTING TECHNIQUE: A FAILING TRADITION

Abstract

The article highlights the peculiarities of the encaustic painting technique and the main problems of preserving this unique technique in the modern art of Ukraine. The meaning of the concept of “encaustic” is revealed. Considerable attention is paid to the technological varieties of encaustic as an ancient pictorial art. Thus, ancient authors wrote about the expressiveness and beauty of the encaustic technique, but, at the same time, “wax painting of the ancients” turned out to be one of the mysterious techniques. First of all, this is due to the fact that very few encaustic works have survived, and the description of technologies was almost absent. Thus, after studying the “Fayum portraits” found in 1887 in Middle Egypt (the Fayum oasis), it was possible to determine that the funerary masks were made in the encaustic technique. Mentions of encaustic works date back to the ancient literature of the times of imperial Rome. During the Renaissance, even Leonardo da Vinci tried to unravel the mystery of encaustic painting, but even he had very little information about this technology. According to the descriptions, it was necessary to solve a complex technological process, so the masters collected information piece by piece and experimentally implemented this technique. These were the first stages of the revival of encaustic painting, which is also called wax painting, because the basis of encaustic paints was wax. The stability of this painting technique was ensured, in particular, by the presence of various resins, linseed oil and dyes of natural origin in the composition of encaustic paints. These paints were applied layer by layer on special soils under high temperature. The exceptional artistic value of the encaustic technique made it possible to preserve it and gave the prospect of revival thanks to the creative searches of artists of the 1970-1995 years of the 20th century. Painting with wax paints meets all the requirements of modern monumental art along with frescoes and mosaics. Modern construction technologies and materials provide ample opportunities for monumental artists to solve various artistic and plastic tasks related to the application of the encaustic technique. The article also considers the role of encaustic in modern easel and monumental art. The work of modern masters of Ukraine who worked in the encaustic technique is analyzed.