Paintings in Oil

The world’s oldest oil paintings have been discovered in Asia, dating from the 5th to 9th centuries, well before the technique was imported (or independently rediscovered) by Europeans.

The most heartening aspect of this news is that the oil paintings are at the Buddhist site in Bamyan in Afghanistan, where the Taliban, with encouragement from al-Qaeda, blew up the colossal Buddha statues back in 2001 in a world-class case of cultural vandalism.

The Taliban didn’t do a very thorough job, it seems. The Bamyan complex is very large, and in the tunnels and structures behind the Buddhas are thoroughly decorated with Buddhist imagery, including the oil paintings. The paintings have been severely damaged, but much remains intact.

UNESCO is attempting a restoration of the statues, so perhaps the paintings will be restored as well.

In the meantime I’m all glowy that culture survives and that the Taliban’s most infamous act was performed in such a incompetent fashion.