Culture, Art, Spirit

Fine Arts

The scope and brilliancy of the interior and especially exterior frescoes decorating the monasteries of Northern Moldavia (15th-16th cent.) - Voronet, Moldovita, Sucevita, Arbore, Humor, or Patrauti made the great Byzantine culture scholar André Grabar consider this artistic phenomenon "an illustrated book open on all its pages." Belonging in the same class are the old local icons, the painting of churches in sub-Carpathian Oltenia - Cozia, Hurezi, Tismana and others - of the famous folk icons painted on glass in 18th-19th century Transylvania.

Preserving the ties with the Byzantine stock and with folkore, the culture of the Romanian Modern Age is increasingly connected to the European artistic world which in turn sends back echoes of the Renaissance, Romanticist, Academist or Impressionistic trends.

Nicolae Grigorescu and Ion Andreescu, who worked for a time in France, at Barbizon, alongside the artists who pioneered the Impressionist movement, together with Stefan Luchian - who contributed elements akin to Art Nouveau - are the founders of modern Romanian painting. They were followed, in the first half of the 20th century, by great personalities who, having come into touch with the new in French, German and Italian art, opened as many new vistas in Romanian painting: Theodor Palady, Nicolae Tonitza, Gheorgeh Petrascu, Jean Al. Steriadi, Nicolae Darascu, Camil Ressu, Francisc Sirato, Iosif Iser and others. An explosion of vitality in Romania was determined by surrealist avant-gardism (Victor Brauner), futurism or constructivism. Having made their debut before World War II, several artists also continue their activity in the following decades, succeeding, despite all adversities in the postwar totalitarian period, to enhance the substance of the national artistic heritage: Ion Tuculescu, Henri Catargi, Catul Bogdan, Alexandru Ciucurencu, Victor Mihailescu, Lucia Dem. Balacescu, Paul Miracovici, Margareta Sterian, Micaela Eleutheriade, Corneliu Baba. Some of the prominent Romanian artists of the time worked mostly abroad.

The past few decades have bred new generations of remarkable personalities, such as Ion Bitzan, Ion Gheorghiu, Ion Nicodim, Ion Pacea, Virgil Almasanu, Ion Popescu-Negreni, Viorel Marginean, Gheorghe Saru, Ion Murariu, Constantin Piliuta, Sabin Balasa, Ion Salisteanu, Paul Gherasim, Horia Bernea and Camilian Demetrescu.

Modern Romanian sculpture has been marked by Constantin Brancusi, the man who initiated the restructuring of the world's sculptural language in the 20th century.

Whereas Brancusi revitalized the abstract expression of archaic art, Dimitrie Paciurea heads for those figurative and fantastic mythological representations that have functions in the old symbolical repertories but which still prove to be pertinent.

With Gheorghe D. Anghel, Romanian 20th century sculpture regains the purity and severity of the Byzantine form, controlled by a spirit fed on classical ideals.

The directions restored in postwar sculpture, notably in the '60s, are based on the trail blazed by Brancusi between folk art and the modern plastic thought. This is confirmed by the works of George Apostu, Ovidiu Maitec, Gheorghe Iliescu-Calinesti, Paul Neagu, Mihai Buculei, Napoleon Tiron.

In the '70s, the "sculpture camps" became genuine open-air museums at: Magura Buzaului, Cascioarele, Arcus, Galati, Buteni etc.

Old Books

The museums of the monasteries in Romania preserve most valuable illuminated manuscripts in the Slavonic, Greek and Romanian languages.

In the first decades of the 14th century printing presses were set up in Bucharest, Targoviste, Brasov, Iasi, Alba Iulia, Ramnic, Buzau, Blaj.

A sustained activity of printing texts in the Romanian language began in 1559 when Deacon Coresi printed Catehismul at his own printing house in Brasov. There follows the Tetraevanghel (The Gospels) in 1561, Apostolul in 1563, Liturghierul and Psaltirea in 1570, Evanghelia cu Invataturi in 1581, Palia de la Orastie (Old Testament) in 1582.

Divanul Inteleptului cu lumea, (The World's Parley with the Wise Man, 1688) a book of philosophical essays by Dimitrie Cantemir, Capetele de porunca (Statutes 1714), a textbook of civil law written by Metropolitan Antim Ivireanul, Jurnalul de calatorie in China (Traveller's Notes from China, 3 volumes, 1675-1678) by Nicolae Milescu, Fiziologul (Physiologus, 1693), a popular textbook of zoology translated by Costea Dascalul of Scheii Brasovului, Istoria politic` [i geografica a Tarilor Romanesti (The Political and Geographical History of the Romanian Countries, 1688-1695), by Constantin Cantacuzino are some of the bibliophile values of the old Romanian book heritage.

Literature

The beginnings of Romanian original cultured literature date back to the 17th-18th centuries, when colourful works full of historical wisdom were produced by the chroniclers Grigore Ureche (1590-1647), Ion Neculce (1672?-1745?), the humanist Constantin Cantacuzino (1640-1714) and especially the scholarly Prince Dimitrie Cantemir (1673-1723), a famous writer, historian and philosopher, member of the Berlin Academy. The string of scholars concerned to assert the Latin origin and identity of the Romanian nation continued with the representatives of the Transylvanian School - Samuil Micu (1745-1806), Gheorghe Sincai (1754-1816), Petru Maior (1756-1821), and Ion Budai Deleanu (1760-1820) author of an ample and arther strange heroic-comical poem titled Tiganiada (the Gypsies’ Saga).

The literary works configuring a first stage in the evolution of the Romanian modern literature belong to a generation of writers in the fifth decade of the 19th century, during a historical epoch marked by social and political changes determined by the 1848 revolutions.

The ideals of emancipation and national unity, and also the will to contribute original works to the European cultural heritage guided the writings of the time’s major writers: Vasile Alecsandri (1818-1890), Grigore Alexandrescu (1814-1885), Mihail Kogalniceanu (1817-1891), Alecu Russo (1819-1859), Nicolae Balcescu (1819-1852), Dimitrie Bolintineanu (1825-1872), Gheorghe Baritiu (1812-1893), Ion Ghica (1816-1897), Costache Negruzzi (1808-1868), Alexandru Odobescu (1834-1895).

The second half of the 19th century represented a peak moment on a literary level. It was the epoch of the great classic authors of the Romanian literature, brilliant writers whose works define fundamentally the counternance of Romanian letters: national poet Mihai Eminescu (1850-1889), prose-writers Ion Creanga (1839-1889) and Ioan Slavici (1848-1925), prose writer and playwright I.L. Caragiale (1852-1912), poet Alexandru Macedonski (1854-1920), and Titu Maiorescu (1840-1917), aesthetician, literary critic, and cultural mentor.

In the 20th century, until the setting up of communism, Romanian literature underwent an ascending evolution, the climax of which was the brilliant interwar generation of writers: prose-writers Mihail Sadoveanu (1880-1961), Liviu Rebreanu (1885-1944), Camil Petrescu (1894-1957), Hortensia Papadat Bengescu (1876-1955), Mircea Eliade (1907-1986) who won fame as a historian of religions, poet and philosopher Lucian Blaga (1895-1961), poets Tudor Arghezi (1880-1967), Ion Barbu (1895-1961), George Bacovia (1881-1957), Octavian Goga (1881-1938), Vasile Voiculescu (1884-1936), literary historians and aestheticians Eugen Lovinescu (1881-1943), Tudor Vianu (1898-1964), and George Calinescu (1899-1965) who was also a novelist.

It is also important to note that Romania was one of the European centres where European literary avant-gardism flourished, thanks to such figures as Urmuz, Tristan Tzara (founder of Dadaism), Benjamin Fondane, Ilarie Voronca, Geo Bogza, Stefan Roll, Gellu Naum and others.

Some of the interwar writers continued to write in the post-war period, avoiding as much as possible the compromises imposed by the totalitarian ideology. Others emigrated and won world fame in their adoptive countries, as in the case of playwright Eugene Ionesco, prose-writers Vintila Horia and Constantin Virgil Gheorghiu, the philosophical essayists Emil Cioran and George Uscatescu, or philosopher Stephane Lupasco.

In the 60s, a new generation of good writers appeared, whose names stood up as solid landmarks of the contemporary Romanian literature: Marin Preda (1922-1980), Eugen Barbu (1924-1993), Geo Bogza (1908-1993), Ion Lancranjan (1928-1991), Emil Botta (1912-1977), Nichita Stanescu (1933-1983), Stefan Banulescu (b. 1929), Nicolae Breban (b. 1934), Constanta Buzea (b. 1941), Augustin Buzura (b. 1938), D.R. Popescu (1935), Ana Blandiana (b. 1942), Adrian Paunescu (b. 1943) and others.

The books in the languages of the ethnic minorities are put out by several publishing houses. The Kriterion Publishing House of Bucharest edits books written by authors belonging to all minorities, but also publishes translations from Romanian and foreign writers. The Dacia Publishing House of Cluj-Napoca focuses on Hungarian and German works.

Drama

The beginnings of the drama shows are traced back to the primitive forms of authochthonous folk theater occasioned by magic rituals, holidays and festivals.

In the Middle Ages, the folk theater shows were staged at the courts of the ruling princes or of the big landowners, and were part of the protocol.

• 1817 marked the opening of the Oravita Theatre, the first in the Romanian language, while in 1818 the Arad Theatre had its premiere.
• In 1819, at Cismeaua Rosie Theater of Bucharest, Euripides’s Hecuba was staged, with Ion Heliade Radulescu in the leading role (a reputed writer, linguist, politician, man of culture).

The Literary Society, established in 1927, gave a strong impetus to theatrical life in Bucharest. Its masterminds set up the School of Dramatic Art and gave performances on a permanent basis.

• In 1836 the Philharmonic-Drama Conservatory of Iasi was founded.
• In 1848 the Iasi Theatre was established and in 1852 the Bucharest Theatre, with a capacity of 1,000 seats.

The foundations of the original Romanian theatre were further consolidated by prose writer and playwright Ion Luca Caragiale (1852-1912).

In the first decades of activity of the National Theatre, several actors gave memorable performances, going down in the history of Romanian theatrical performance: Grigore Manolescu, Stefan Iulian, Aristizza Romanescu, C.I. Nottara, Aristide Demetriad, Ion Brezeanu.

The pace of Romanian drama was further enhanced in the period between the two world wars. Grave problems of human existence were contemplated and treated philosophically. The most representative playwrights of that period are Camil Petrescu (1894-1957), Lucian Blaga (1895-1961), G.M. Zamfirescu (1898-1939), Victor Eftimiu (1889-1972), Mihail Sebastian (1907-1945), Victor Ion Popa (1895-1946), G. Ciprian (1883-1968), and Tudor Musatescu (1903-1970).

Contemporary Romanian theatre boasts notable authors, such as: Horia Lovinescu, Teodor Mazilu, Ion Baiesu, D.R. Popescu, Marin Sorescu, Dumitru Solomon, Iosif Naghiu, Matei Visniec.

Some of the prominent theatre directors known internationally are Liviu Ciulei, Lucian Pintilie, Silviu Purcarete, Catalina Buzoianu, Alexandru Tocilescu, Andrei Serban, Silviu Purcarete, Catalina Buzoianu, Alexandru Tocilescu, Lucian Giurchescu, David Esrig.

Music

Archaeological sources, documents and iconographic testimonies attest to the existence of a well-individualized musical culture in pre-Roman and Roman Dacia. The growing Daco-Roman population north of the Danube led to the development of religious music.

In the Middle Ages, Romanian art became a genuine spiritual reality that gained recognition in the period. The Wallachian dance is mentioned in the European musical codices.

In liturgy music, the native element gained ground. The School of Putna was for almost one century (1490-1585) the most reputed school of Romanian music. At the same time, recognition was acknowledged of the Transylvanian Counterpoint School with centers in Sighisoara, Bistrita, Sibiu, and Brasov.

The times that came after the Union of the Romanian Principalities (1859) and the state independence (1877) witnessed a cultural upsurge. The first Conservatories were set up in Iasi (1860) and Bucharest (1864) and then the Romanian Philharmonic Society was created (1868).

With folklore as a source of inspiration, composers like J.A. Wachamnn, Carol Miculi, Alexandru Flechtenmacher, Eduard Caudella, Gavriil Musicescu, Ciprian Porumbescu, Gheorghe Burada, and Gheorghe Dima created choral and vocal-instrumental music, opera, operetta and vaudeville. The work and activity of these founders of the professional Romanian music mark the birth and assertion of the national music school and herald the rise of a genius: George Enescu (1881-1955), reputed composer and violonist whose creation covers several historical stages in the development of music and raises the value of modern Romanian music to the level of world art.

Enescu's generation features several outstanding names such as D.G. Kiriac, Sabin Dragoi, Dimitrie Cuclin, Martian Negrea,, Paul Constantinescu, Tiberiu Brediceanu, followed by the newer generations of Pascal Bentoiu, Aurel Stroe, Stefan Niculescu, Tiberiu Olah.

European and American stages have welcomes such worthy musicians as conductors Sergiu Celibidache, George Georgescu, Ionel Perlea, Constantin Silvestri, Cristian Mandeal, pianists Dinu Lipatti, Clara Haskill, Valentin Gheorghiu, Radu Lupu, Dan Grigore, vilinists Ion Vocu, Stefan Ruha, Eugen Sarbu, Silvia Marcovici, Lenuta Ciulei, Radu Tomescu, cellists Radu Aldulescu and Marin Cazacu, Pan-pipe virtuoso Gheorghe Zamfir, and great singers beginning from Haricleea Darclee (the first to perform the leading part in Puccini’s Tosca), Traian Grozavescu, Florica Cristoforeanu or Lucia Bercescu, to Elena Cernei, Virginia Zeani, Nicolae Herlea, Viorica Cortez, Ileana Cotrubas, Mariana Nicolesco, Dan Iordachescu, Ludovic Spiess, to the currrent divas Angela Gheorghiu, Leontina Vaduva and Nelly Miricioiu.

Filmmaking

In 1896, in Bucharest, the first films by the brothers Lumière were run at the headquarters of L'Indépendence Roumaine daily.

In 1902, a Romanian photographer, Paul Menu, achieves the first newsreel shot in Bucharest with a Lumière camera.

In 1912, Grigore Brezeanu signs the film The Independence of Romania, about the Romanian-Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. Two talented directors made their debut in 1924: Jean Georgescu (1904-1993) and Jean Mihail (1896-1963). In 1938, the National Cinema Office was set up. At the 1938 Venice Film Festival, the Grand Prize went the documentary film Tara motilor (Maramures Land) signed by Paul Calinescu.

The founder of the Romanian cartoon school, Ion Popescu-Gopo, makes his debut in 1951. With his Short History Gopo wins, in 1957, the Palme d'Or at the Cannes International Festival. 1959 is the year when the Film Studios at Buftea opened. In 1961, the famous director Liviu Ciulei makes his debut with The Waves of the Danube that wins the Crystal Globe at the Karlovy Vary festival.

In 1965, Liviu Ciulei's The Forest of the Hanged is awarded the best-director prize at the Cannes Festival. There followed a new generation of good directors: Iulian Mihu, Manole Marcus, Malvina Ursianu, Gheorghe Vitanidis, Andrei Blaier, Mircea Daneliuc, Elisabeta Bostan, Constantin Vaeni, Stere Gulea, Alexa Visarion, Serban Marinescu, Alexandru Tatos, Dan Pita.

The best films of the last decade are: The Oak Tree, Unforgettable Summer and Too Late (1996) by Lucian Pintilie, The Eleventh Commandment, The Conjugal Bed, Fed Up, The Snails' Senator by Mircea Daneliuc, Hotel de luxe (awarded the Silver Lion at the Venice Festival, 1992), Pepe and Fifi by Dan Pita.

In 2004, several Romanian films won prizes at various international festivals: A Carton of Kent Cigarettes and A Pack of Coffee by Cristi Puiu (the Golden Bear-Berlin), short movies Traffic by Catalin Mitulescu (the Grand Prix- Cannes) and Italian Women by Napoleon Helmis (at the Festival of Venice), and Georgiana Visan’s Bird Nest (the Student Film Festival-Tel Aviv).

Source: ROMANIA - FOCUS
Released by the Foreign Languages Press Group