Unkown artist - "Eastern European Town Scene"

In Eastern Europe, the naïve movement began in the early 1930’s in and around the Croatian town of Hlebine. There, farmer-painters, such as Krsto Hegedusic, Ivan Generalic, Franjo Mraz and Mirko Virius, formed the “Earth Movement” and, in their paintings, began depicting the harsh reality of the peasants’ lot. In addition, they began painting on glass, striving for maximum intensity on a two-planed surface.

As the “Earth Movement” reached the cities and then stretched eastward and northward into Serbia (especially the areas around Kovacica and Jagodina), Hungary and Romania, its message was softened by a less-politicized peasantry that, for historical and cultural reasons, had a more sanguine outlook of life. This development – which, in Serbia, for example, was reflected in the works of Martin Jonas and Dusan Jevtovic – resulted in lighter, softer colors, a reversion to painting on canvas, and an idealized portrayal of everyday life. These artists emphasized life’s celebrations – the fairs, weddings and festivals – and filled their canvases with abundant crops, colorfully-dressed maidens and dancers, and sun-soaked skies.

Russian naïvism has developed in two parallel tracks – the first, folkloric and peasant art, rooted in poetic traditions and characterized by primitive features and symbolism, and the second, popular urban art, comprising personal and improvisational themes, and influenced by modern trends and the artists' general education. Despite the differences in origin of these two streams, each contains many of the traditional characteristics of naïvism: vibrant colors, child-like perspective and a lyrical affection for the land and those who plow, sow and harvest it.