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Jan 20, 2023 · Its impact on art history has been profound: these are the kinds of questions raised by cubism 250 years later, and Picasso was so fascinated with Las Meninas, he painted 58 versions of it.
- Ailis Brennan
- Prehistoric Art
- Ancient Art
- Medieval Art
- Renaissance Art
- Mannerism
- Baroque
- Rococo
- Neoclassicism
- Romanticism
- Realism
The origins of art history can be traced back to the Prehistoric era, before written records were kept. The earliest artifacts come from the Paleolithic era, or the Old Stone Age, in the form of rock carvings, engravings, pictorial imagery, sculptures, and stone arrangements. Art from this period relied on the use of natural pigmentsand stone carvi...
Ancient art was produced by advanced civilizations, which in this case refers to those with an established written language. These civilizations included Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and those of the Americas. The medium of a work of art from this period varies depending on the civilization that produced it, but most art served similar purposes: to ...
The Middle Ages, often referred to as the “Dark Ages,” marked a period of economic and cultural deterioration following the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 A.D. Much of the artwork produced in the early years of the period reflects that darkness, characterized by grotesque imagery and brutal scenery. Art produced during this time was centered aroun...
This style of painting, sculpture, and decorative art was characterized by a focus on nature and individualism, the thought of man as independent and self-reliant. Though these ideals were present in the late Medievalperiod, they flourished in the 15th and 16th centuries, paralleling social and economic changes like secularization. The Renaissance ...
Mannerist artists emerged from the ideals of Michelangelo, Raphael, and other Late Renaissance artists, but their focus on style and technique outweighed the meaning of the subject matter. Often, figures had graceful, elongated limbs, small heads, stylized features and exaggerated details. This yielded more complex, stylized compositions rather tha...
The Baroque periodthat followed Mannerism yielded ornate, over-the-top visual arts and architecture. It was characterized by grandeur and richness, punctuated by an interest in broadening human intellect and global discovery. Baroque artists were stylistically complex. Baroque paintings were characterized by drama, as seen in the iconic works of It...
Rococooriginated in Paris, encompassing decorative art, painting, architecture, and sculpture. The aesthetic offered a softer style of decorative art compared to Baroque’s exuberance. Rococo is characterized by lightness and elegance, focusing on the use of natural forms, asymmetrical design, and subtle colors. Painters like Antoine Watteau and Fra...
As its name suggests, the Neoclassical period drew upon elements from classical antiquity. Archaeological ruins of ancient civilizations in Athens and Naples that were discovered at the time reignited a passion for all things past, and artists strove to recreate the great works of ancient art. This translated to a renewed interest in classical idea...
Romanticism embodies a broad range of disciplines, from painting to music to literature. The ideals present in each of these art forms reject order, harmony, and rationality, which were embraced in both classical art and Neoclassicism. Instead, Romantic artists emphasized the individual and imagination. Another defining Romantic ideal was an apprec...
Arguably the first modern art movement, Realism, began in France in the 1840s. Realism was a result of multiple events: the anti-Romantic movement in Germany, the rise of journalism, and the advent of photography. Each inspired new interest in accurately capturing everyday life. This attention to accuracy is evident in art produced during the movem...
Jan 27, 2015 · In 1878 Van Gogh was a struggling would-be preacher. At his lowest ebb, he began to draw. Alastair Sooke looks back at this pivotal moment in history.
We believe art has the power to transform lives and to build understanding across cultures. The brilliant histories of art belong to everyone, no matter their background. With 503 contributors from 201 colleges, universities, museums, and research centers, Smarthistory is the most-visited art history resource in the world.
Nov 2, 2017 · Who were the artists that changed the course of art history? And what were the artworks that broke the mold? Though you've probably heard of most of the artists in the list we present to you below, we're here to explain what discovery each artist made, and how they effectively changed the definition of art.
May 30, 2023 · The rapid progress in technology and innovation gave impetus to a vast range of art forms, from architecture to sculpture, painting, and decorative arts. As civilizations evolved, so did their artistic expressions, paving the way for diverse traditions that continue to inspire and influence even contemporary art practices.
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Many movements in art history have tried to change society in one way or another: Dada artists advocated for silliness and nonsensical behaviour in daily life as the only response to the horrors of the First World War.
