schildering

Schildering, in English painting, refers to the practice of applying pigment to a surface to create an image, design, or decorative effect. It encompasses a wide range of media, supports, and styles intended for visual representation or adornment. The term can denote both the activity of painting and the finished work, whether in fine art, portraiture, landscapes, abstraction, or decorative arts. In a broader sense, schildering distinguishes painting from other plastic arts such as sculpture or printmaking.

Common painting media include oil, acrylic, watercolor, tempera, and gouache. Surfaces range from stretched canvas and wooden panels to walls for fresco and murals, as well as paper and board. Techniques include underpainting, glazing, impasto, scumbling, and washes, often combined with drawing or design preparation. Tools vary from brushes and knives to sponges and airbrush, and supports may be primed or ground to improve adhesion and longevity.

Historically, schildering has roots in prehistoric and ancient art, with major developments in European art from the Renaissance onward. The Dutch Golden Age produced influential landscape and genre painting, while the 19th and 20th centuries saw Impressionism, Expressionism, and contemporary abstraction broaden painting's approaches. In addition to fine art, painting remains integral to architecture, interior decoration, and public murals.

Conservation of paintings involves cleaning, varnish removal or replacement, stabilization of pigments, and protection from environmental damage. Education and studios train painters in composition, color theory, technique, and material science. The accessibility and interpretation of painting continue to evolve with new media technologies and cross-disciplinary practices.