Screen painting
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Screen painting is a folk art form originating in white working class neighborhoods in Baltimore in the early 20th century. It was invented by Czechoslovakian immigrant William Oktavec as a way to prevent direct sunlight from prematurely spoiling the produce for sale in his East Baltimore store. The wire screen section of a screen door is typically painted with bucolic landscapes, still lifes, or other subjects of interest. The artist paints the scene directly onto the screen, making sure to remove excess paint from the screen's holes so the screen retains its ability to ventilate. The scene painted on the screen prevents the eye from focusing past the image, giving residents privacy without limiting their ability to look outside. While screen painting is now mostly regarded as urban kitsch, authentic examples can still be seen in Baltimore neighborhoods such as Hampden or Highlandtown.
