Located in the heart of southeastern Europe, Macedonia is a landlocked republic in the Balkans that boasts a diverse population of Albanians, Turks, Serbs, Croats, Bosnians, Vlachs and the Roma people. Known for its cultural diversity and rich architectural legacy, Macedonia is home to antique theaters, Ottoman mosques, Byzantine churches and relics from the Stone Age and even earlier civilizations. The oldest relics of human habitation in Macedonia are stone engravings, found in the Kratovo area, that date back 30,000 years. Many Macedonian ruins and artifacts have been preserved, making this region a treasure trove of art and history. The skill of Macedonian artworks is highly visible in fresco paintings, icon paintings and wood carvings.
Fresco painting during the Byzantine Empire resulted in some of the most beautiful Macedonian artworks. A fresco painting is created by the rapid application of watercolor on wet plaster on a wall or ceiling so that the colors penetrate the plaster and become fixed as it dries. Some of the finest examples of this type of Macedonian art include the frescoes in Nerezi and Kurbinovo. The subject matter of Macedonian frescoes included dramatic scenes, the turmoil of man, athletic young people and the lives of saints.
The strong influence of Christianity is clearly reflected in Macedonian art, especially in icon painting. The oldest icons, discovered in Ohrid, date from the 11th and early 12th centuries. These artworks include the icons "St. Vasilij and St. Nicholas," "The Forty Martyrs," "The Communion of the Apostles" and the Holy Virgin of "Annunciation with Archangel." Considered highly artistic accomplishments both in scope and beauty, icon paintings reflect not only the skill of the artists but also the religious devotion of the Macedonian people.
Decorative sculpture, including wood carving, served as a complement to fresco painting and as an integral part of architectural arrangements during the Macedonian Renaissance.
After the Ottoman conquest, Macedonian wood carving exhibited a strong Middle Eastern influence characterized by a shallow, flat arabesque style. This type of carving remained dominant until the 17th century, when more intricate carving styles and preferences came into prominence. The oldest specimens of Macedonian wood carvings are located in Ohrid in the church of St. Sophia.