from the word "beat"

Although wallpaper has been produced photographically since the 70s, the word “wallpaper” itself refers to printing a design onto fabric. (Photo: Pavel Gorshkov )

In 1900, dying in a musty room in a French hotel, Oscar Wilde said, staring longingly at the wall: “Either this wallpaper disappears - or I!” Of course he disappeared. Wallpaper is an absolutely integral part of a modern home, and only recently has a fashion for bare walls begun to appear.

Meanwhile, none of the ancient cultures knew wallpaper, because they did not know paper. The medieval shift of European civilization to the north led to the need to insulate rooms, and the damp walls of castles began to be hung with carpets. However, carpets were so expensive that even the French kings of the 15th century, moving from castle to castle, were forced to take them with them. Cheaper wall coverings were embossed and sometimes gilded leather. This fashion was first noted in the 11th century among the Arabs, but in Europe, starting with Spain, it appears much later. The need, originally domestic, turned into an aesthetic one, and the place of warm carpets and leathers was often taken by cheap fabrics with printed patterns that were useless from a heat point of view.

This is where the invention of printing came in handy. In 1509, York printer Hugo Geuss produced the first ever roll of wallpaper. It was 15 by 200 inches in size, black and white, and its design imitated brocade embroidery (currently kept in Cambridge). In the 16th century, wallpaper became widespread among wealthy people in Europe. In 1600, the Dutch master Herman Schinkel invented "shaggy" wallpaper: tufts of dyed wool were splashed onto paper coated with a damp varnish, creating the illusion of a carpet. Fashion took over the continent, and Huguenot emigrant Jerome Lanier received a patent for this method in England in 1634.

However, the “fleecy” fashion was destined to have a short life: already in the middle of the 17th century, the East India Company began to import beautiful wallpaper from China, which instantly crowded out everything else from the market. They were called “Indian paper,” apparently in honor of the company, but they clearly imitated Chinese silk. By this time, steam heating had already appeared, the problem of dampness and cold in large rooms had been solved, so the illusion of carpets on the walls lost its original appeal. Chinese wallpaper eventually prevailed even over tapestries - European monarchs delighted in decorating the walls of their palaces with bright images of birds, flowers and landscapes. Until the beginning of the 19th century, all wallpapers were just like this. They cost from 3 to 5 guineas per roll measuring 80 by 20 inches and were sold in batches of 25 rolls. Only very wealthy people could afford such expenses.

It was only in 1806 that the London master Henri Fourdrinier began making wallpaper that could compete with the Chinese. They had the advantage of being produced in large rolls - up to 12 feet long and up to 6 feet wide. This wallpaper cost from 1 to 4 shillings per roll; in the 19th century, any person of average income could cover their walls with it. Therefore, Kozma Prutkov, asked by two acquaintances which of them he liked best, could rightfully make a pun: “I really like the wallpaper!”