2.3 An Introduction to Art History

Introduction to Art History

Art

the product of a body of knowledge, most often using a set of skills.

Beautiful object

a more appropriate working definition of art would be that art is created when an artist creates a _____________ or produces a stimulating experience that is considered by his audience to have artistic merit.

artists; craftsmen

The idea is that _____ are somehow superior because they 'create' things of beauty while ________ perform repetitive or purely functional actions.

tradesmen/craftsmen

In general, until the early Renaissance of the 15th century, all artists were considered _________________ and were only considered professionals until the mid-1500s.

intellectual activity

although Renaissance artists succeeded in raising their craft to the level of a profession, they only defined art as an essentially ____________.

captivate viewers

art is distinguished primarily by its ability to____________. Crafts may be interesting, but art has the potential to move us—emotionally, intellectually, or otherwise.

Fine art

• This category includes artworks created primarily for aesthetic reasons rather than for commercial or functional use.

• 'art for art's sake'

• Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture

Visual Art

includes all the fine arts, new media, and contemporary forms of expression.

Decorative Art

• This category traditionally denotes functional but ornamental art forms, such as works in glass, clay, wood, metal, or textile fabric.

• jewelry, mosaic art forms, ceramics, furniture, furnishings, stained glass, and tapestry art.

Applied Art

• This category encompasses all activities involving the application of aesthetic designs to everyday functional objects.

• Architecture, Interior Design

Performance Art

This type refers to public performance events.

Plastic Art

• typically denotes three-dimensional works employing materials that can be molded, shaped, or manipulated (plasticized) in some way

• clay, plaster, stone, metals, wood (sculpture), paper (origami), and so on.