AHIS101 Block 3 concepts and terms

Key terms and concepts from block 3

Vanitas

A type of still life that focuses on mortality and the macabre in juxtaposition with beauty and vanity.

Genre

scene that depicts moments from everyday life. Usually about setting and the role of unnamed subjects. Showed inns pubs and brothels, unacceptable for a women to be in these places depicting these scenes.

Ukiyo-e

Wood block prints similar to genre paintings. showed daily life, female beauty, theatre actors, pop culture, landscape and city scenes.

Naked vs Nude

Naked is when something usually dressed is undressed, this is a natural state of the body. Nude is an idealized carefully rendered depiction of the human body in delicate poses, usually female.

Wakashu

Wakashu is a young boy with femininity. A proto nonbinary/trans identity. Often with an older male partner as this is the acceptable mlm dynamic. Clothing and hair represent male maturity.

Chinoiserie

Subsection of rococo that focuses on east Asian iconography. Mainly China but people did not distinguish between China, Japan, and Korea. Full of preconceptions and racist stereotypes. Rich people would have orientalist themed rooms.

Casta “caste” Paintings

lineage paintings to show descendants with parents to trace family trees.

Women and art in Middle ages

500-1500. Women are active part in artisan class where they can brew, bake and craft. Produce art in workshops unnamed.

What Genres of art are acceptable for women in this time?

Landscape, botanical illustration, still lives. Anything that would keep them docile without distracting them from their duties. Genre and historical are seen as inappropriate.

Female artists in relation to copying vs Creation

Art that women create is seen as copying what is already there rather than creating a new creative work.

Subjects vs Objects

When someone is a subject, they are painted to represent a unique distinct individual. When they are an object, they are meant to be an allegory for a wider group. Women are often depicted as objects. Object is passive (exists without autonomy) while subject is active (one who looks or acts)

Women and Vision

Women’s vision was seen as having power over fetal development and birth. They had to focus on beautiful nice things and if there were defects or complications, they were thought to have not done that well enough.

Evolution of Mary

Mary evolves from being depicted as a divine spiritual symbol to a nurturing mother. This allows the common folk to relate and understand better.

Neo Classicism

The idea that human peak was during ancient Greece and Rome during the classical period. reignited interest after discovery of Pompeii. This is used to enforce gender and racial hierarchy. “man is the measure of all things” mindset.

White women and racism

White women often used their status as white to get ahead of other women, Enforced racial hierarchy to secure privilege. People of colour are often seen at the level of animals, often painted the same colour. Colonialism and orientalism stereotype and white wash people of colour where they are not objectified completely. White skin is seen as more lively.

Women and art in Edo Japan

1600-1868. period of peace and prosperity. Upper and samurai classes of women can make art in free time as hobby.

Women and art in Renaissance

14th-16 C. Women artists are exceptions not examples. shift from monastic to workshop settings where students would do background and main artist would do main figures.

Barriers to entry

Women can’t work on scaffolding, be academy members, cannot use nude models for reference or study. Must be mothers and wives and take care of house.