Folk Art Paintings
Folk art is a genre of art that shares the creator’s traditions, offering not just an artistic display but an opportunity to learn about a culture. Antique, new and vintage folk art typically reflects a heritage or location. It can include utilitarian objects and handmade art as diverse as weather vanes, duck decoys, portraiture and paintings, carnival art and quilts.
Quilts are a quintessential part of American folk art but their roots are international, with quilting dating back to Ancient Egypt. The practice spread to Europe and was especially prominent in the Middle Ages, with one of the oldest surviving examples being the Tristan quilt made in Sicily in the 14th century. They were made as bedcovers and clothing, including as a layer for knights to wear beneath their armor. Native American folk art includes functional objects reflecting their heritage, such as baskets, textiles and wooden pieces.
Elsewhere, the vast range of work associated with Mexican folk art includes masks made by Mexican craftspeople for traditional celebrations and ceremonial dances. Mexican masks are part of the country’s folk-art traditions that go back thousands of years and play a role in festivals and theater.
Works in the folk art tradition are valuable because of the skills involved, like weaving, hand-carving wood and even stonework. Many folk artists are self-taught, while some train as apprentices within their community. By using available materials and taking a personal approach to their creations, artists ensure each piece is unique and conveys a story.
During the Great Depression, artistic materials in America were hard to come by, so artisans used discarded wood from cigar boxes and shipping crates to make highly stylized, notched pieces — most often picture frames and boxes — that are today sought after by collectors. This folk art style is called tramp art and was popular from roughly 1870 until the 1940s.
Folk art brings vibrant culture and traditions into your home. Browse an extensive collection of antique, new and vintage folk art on 1stDibs.
1930s Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Paint
1930s Korean Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Paper
1930s American Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Paint
1930s Italian Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Canvas
Early 1900s Belgian Antique Folk Art Paintings
Paint, Wood
20th Century French Folk Art Paintings
Canvas, Paint
18th Century Italian Antique Folk Art Paintings
Paint
1980s Balinese Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Canvas
Early 20th Century Chinese Folk Art Paintings
Paper, Wood, Paint
1930s American Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Canvas, Wood
Late 19th Century Antique Folk Art Paintings
Mid-18th Century Japanese Antique Folk Art Paintings
Metal
18th Century Peruvian Antique Folk Art Paintings
Canvas
Mid-19th Century European Antique Folk Art Paintings
Canvas, Paint
Early 20th Century Swedish Folk Art Paintings
Canvas, Paint
Early 20th Century Folk Art Paintings
Wood, Masonite, Paint
1930s Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Hardwood, Paint
1930s French Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Canvas
1930s American Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Wood, Paint
1930s American Vintage Folk Art Paintings
1930s American Vintage Folk Art Paintings
Masonite