Intro to humanities midterm study terms

Humanities —

Fields that study human culture, ideas, creativity, and expression.

Naturalism —

Representing subjects so they look recognizable and close to how they appear in nature.

Abstraction —

Simplifying, altering, or moving away from realistic representation.

Realism —

Depicting subjects as they are observed, without intentionally idealizing them.

Idealism —

Presenting subjects in a perfected or improved form.

Formal Analysis —

Analyzing an artwork based on its visual elements, such as line, color, shape, space, and composition.

Contextual Analysis —

Analyzing an artwork through its historical, cultural, religious, and social context.

Marble Carving —

A subtractive process where stone is removed to create a sculpture. Allows detailed, smooth surfaces but mistakes are difficult to fix.

Bronze Casting —

A process where molten bronze is poured into a mold. Allows complex forms and projecting parts but requires a more complicated casting process.

Greek & Roman Sculpture —

Often emphasized naturalism, proportion, balance, idealized anatomy, and the beauty of the human body.

Medieval Sculpture —

Often prioritized religious meaning and symbolism over realistic anatomy.

Renaissance Sculpture —

Returned to classical Greek and Roman ideas, emphasizing naturalism, anatomy, proportion, and the human figure.

Polykleitos —

Ancient Greek sculptor known for ideal proportions and the Doryphoros.

Doryphoros —

Sculpture by Polykleitos known for idealized proportions and contrapposto.

Contrapposto —

A pose where the body's weight is shifted onto one leg, creating a natural-looking balance.

Donatello —

Renaissance sculptor who created David, helping revive the classical nude male figure.

Donatello's David —

Renaissance sculpture that reflects renewed interest in classical art and the human body.

Michelangelo —

Renaissance artist who created David.

Michelangelo's David —

Emphasizes idealized anatomy, strength, tension, and heroic potential.

Parthenon —

Ancient Greek temple dedicated to Athena; reflects Greek religious beliefs and values.

Pantheon —

Ancient Roman building associated with Roman religious traditions; famous for its enormous dome and monumental interior.

Chartres Cathedral —

Medieval French Gothic cathedral that reflects Christian spirituality through its height, stained glass, and monumental scale.

Faith/Spirituality in Architecture —

Religious buildings use features such as scale, height, light, decoration, and space to express religious beliefs.

Nature in Painting — Module 4 focuses on the celebration and representation of nature in 17th-century China and 19th-century Europe and America. Midterm Exam Study Guide

Module 4 focuses on the celebration and representation of nature in 17th-century China and 19th-century Europe and America. Midterm Exam Study Guide

Vincent van Gogh —

Artist who painted Starry Night.

Starry Night —

Presents nature as energetic, expressive, and emotionally powerful.

Thomas Cole —

Artist who painted The Oxbow.

The Oxbow —

Celebrates the power and beauty of the American landscape.

Caspar David Friedrich —

Romantic landscape painter who created Abbey Among Oak Trees and Monk by the Sea.

Abbey Among Oak Trees — .

Landscape emphasizing nature, spirituality, and the contrast between humanity and the natural world.

Monk by the Sea —

Landscape emphasizing human smallness and isolation in relation to the vastness of nature.

Gong —

Chinese artist associated with Eight Views of Landscape.

Eight Views of Landscape —

Chinese landscape painting emphasizing nature, harmony, and the relationship between humans and the natural world.