Naive Reverse Oil Paintings on Glass

These works from Eastern Europe are oil paintings, painted in reverse on the back side of a pane of glass. Naïve art is characterized by a childlike simplicity. It is a gross oversimplification to assume that Naïve art is created by people with little or no formal art training. The term naïve art presumes the existence (by contrast) of an academy and of a generally accepted educated manner of art creation, most often painting. In practice, however, there are schools of naïve artists. Over time it has become an acceptable style, and in fact Grandma Moses is an example of this style. Naïve art describes the work of an artist who did not receive a formal education 'pseudo naïve' or 'faux naïve' art describes the work of an artist working in a more imitative or self-conscious mode and whose work can be seen as more imitative than original.