Kurbits
Kurbits or Kurbitsmalerei ( Swedish kurbits ) is a historical, decorative painting that was mainly carried out in the Swedish historical province of Dalarna . The term probably has its origin in the Latin word cucurbita ( pumpkin ). It is the depiction of colorful fantasy plants with exaggeratedly large flowers and leaves, often in connection with religious motifs.
In older Bible translations, kurbits was the translation of the Hebrew word for tree or bush. In the biblical book of Jonah , God grows a castor bush or tree to provide shade for the prophet Jonah. Presumably this story is the starting point for the Kurbits painting in Dalarna.
The painting was often done by wandering painters, who went from yard to yard and painted furnishings such as cupboards and chests. Wall paintings were also carried out, for example by the famous painter Winter Carl Hansson in Danielsgården in Bingsjö. His work is now a listed building .
Simple prints from Germany or France in the 16th and 17th centuries served as a template . A popular motif was the old staircase, which symbolically represents the curriculum vitae by ascending and descending stairs. Painting had its peak during the years 1780-1870.
Even today, kurbit paintings are used for decorative decoration on cupboards and chests or on souvenir items such as cutting boards and the famous red Dalarna horse .
swell
- Dalarna, ett Bildverk. AB Allhem, Malmö, 1971
- Bonnier's Lexicon. Bonnier Lexikon AB, 1996, del 11