pilvepildid

Pilvepildid are a form of medieval Estonian art, characterized by intricate and colorful painting on a canvas made of birch bark. The word "pilvepildid" is Estonian, translating to "cloud pictures" in English, which refers to the often depicted clouds and celestial bodies in these artworks. These paintings were created primarily by Estonian artists during the Middle Ages, with the majority of surviving samples dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries.

The production of pilvepildid was likely a complex process, as was the availability of birch bark, which was a rare and valuable material in the region at the time. It is believed that the artists used herbal pigments, both obtained from locally available plant species, to create the vibrant colors seen in these artworks. Despite the fact that some pilvepildid have direct inscriptions, the interpretation of these murals is represented by modern assumptions due to its age and the language spoken by the artists, the majority of these pilvepildid are still unknown.

Several samples of pilvepildid have survived until today and are now preserved in Estonian museums, as well as in collections abroad. Along with these pilvepildid, archaeological findings of other artifacts from the same period indicate that pilvepildid's primary role was not only as a form of decoration, but perhaps as an altar piece or a symbol of social status.