Who painted Icoau, n?

Icoau, n was painted by Unknown in 1850.

Where can I see Icoau, n?

Icoau, n is held by "Dimitrie Gusti" National Village Museum.

Artwork

Icoau, n

Icoau, n is a drawing by Unknown. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the "Dimitrie Gusti" National Village Museum. The object is a plain wooden panel, uniformly light in colour and free of any applied imagery or pigment.

About this work

Overview

The object is a plain wooden panel, uniformly light in colour and free of any applied imagery or pigment. Its surface bears subtle signs of age, including faint scratches and a general wear pattern, suggesting prolonged handling or storage. Two diminutive handwritten numerals appear in opposite corners, likely serving as an inventory or catalog reference rather than an artistic element.

Technique & Style

Crafted from a single piece of wood, the panel exhibits a smooth, even finish achieved through basic planing and sanding, without any subsequent decorative treatment. The lack of drawing or painting indicates that the piece was intended as a substrate for future work, a common practice in workshop settings where blank supports were prepared in advance for artists or illustrators.

History & Provenance

The presence of handwritten numbers in the panel’s corners points to an archival function, possibly as a catalog entry within a museum or ethnographic collection. While the exact origin and date remain undocumented, such inventory markings are typical of institutional record‑keeping, suggesting the panel entered the collection as a preparatory material rather than as a finished artwork.

Context

Within ethnographic and museum collections, unadorned wooden panels often serve as evidence of material culture related to artistic production processes. Their inclusion helps illustrate the logistical aspects of creating portable artworks, especially in traditions where artists maintained a stock of ready‑made supports for on‑demand drawing or painting.