Málás

Málás is a Hungarian term used to denote the act of painting or applying color to a surface. It encompasses both fine art painting and decorative painting on walls, furniture, or other objects, and is commonly encountered in art education and everyday language when referring to the craft of painting.

The scope of málás covers a range of techniques and media. In fine art contexts it includes brushwork, layering, blending, and glazing, while in decorative work it may involve finishes, stenciling, and color coordination for interior surfaces. Common media associated with málás are oil paints, acrylics, watercolors, tempera, and mixed media, applied on surfaces such as canvas, wood panels, plaster, or walls. Tools include brushes, palette knives, rollers, and sponges, chosen to achieve specific textures and effects.

Historical and cultural notes indicate that málás functions as a broad category rather than a distinct stylistic movement. In Hungarian art discourse, it is used to describe the practice of painting across genres—from classical portraits and landscapes to contemporary and experimental works. The term emphasizes the procedural and material aspects of painting as a discipline, rather than a single school or school of thought.

See also: painting, visual arts, mural, fresco, decorative arts.