How did flax preserve history?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

April 29, 2003

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So valuable is flax (Linum usitatissimum Linnaeus) to civilization that three hundred cultivars of that single species exist. Flax cultivars are divided into two main categories, fiber and oilseed. Flax is best known for its fiber and the cloth, linen.

Pierre Auguste Renoir's (1841 – 1919) art celebrates life’s temporal pleasures, the 'here and now' of his time, more than any other Impressionist artist. Preferring to paint his friends and lovers, his masterful depictions of their candid facial features and body stances convey the youthful spirit and intimate charm that ignited the feeling of an Eden of earthly pleasures. His portrayal of luminous color, skillfully varied brushstrokes, nuances of light and shadow all worked together to form a warm sensuality that made him a leader of the Impressionist movement. Frederick Bazille at His Easel, 1867 Pierre-Auguste Renoir Buy Framed Art Print at AllPosters.com View Larger

Flax fibers age slowly when exposed to sunlight and air and do not disintegrate when wet. Flax is in carpeting and upholstery. Flax fibers give durability to currency paper, special document papers, tea bags, and airmail envelopes. ("Flax: Going with the Grain", Watershed Media)

Flaxseeds are mostly proteins, carbohydrates, and oil. Flaxseed is in breads, cereals, and bakery goods. The oil, pressed from the seeds, is in salad dressings and breakfast drinks. Linseed oil is in varnishes, paints, and enamels. Patent leather, linoleum, and ink contain linseed oil. The oil waterproofs fabrics used to make raincoats, umbrellas, and tarps. The seed meal left from the pressing goes into livestock feed. ("Linum usitatissimum L.", James A. Duke, 1983)

But there is one area seldom considered of flax. It has preserved bits of our humanity. It was the coming together of both the fiber and the oil to span the ages. People, places, and events pass away; but the artist's canvas of durable linen and the pigments made fluid with linseed oil, remain. The oil painting is the moment caught, remembered through the eyes of the artist, and embodied by the matters made of flax.

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia has information on Linen and an article on Oil painting. To view the articles, click on the links:

Click here to view the article on Linen

Click here to view the article on Oil painting

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