Art-History

Overview of Art History

• Art History spans from 15,000 BC to the present, encompassing various art movements and styles across different civilizations.

Prehistoric Era (40,000 B.C. - 2300 B.C.)

• Prehistoric art includes artifacts from ancient civilizations like Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome.

• Artists utilized natural resources like clay, rocks, and animal materials to create images often depicting animals and human stories.

Mesopotamian Art (9000 BCE-300 BCE)

• The ancient empire in modern-day Iraq primarily created stone reliefs for imperial monuments, depicting royal activities like hunting and war, focusing on animals over human figures.

Egyptian Art (5500 - 500 BCE)

• Egyptian art includes paintings, sculptures, and jewelry characterized by a unique style featuring symbolic writing, with many surviving pieces found in tombs and monuments.

Greek Art (1000 BCE - 250 BCE)

• Greek sculpture and architecture significantly influenced subsequent cultures, noted for their realistic human forms and crafted vessels used in daily life.

Roman Art (509 BCE - 400 CE)

• Ancient Roman art drew heavily from Greek culture, excelling in painting, sculpture, and architecture, emphasizing mythological themes.

Middle Ages (200 - 1400)

• This period connects Classical and Modern art, where Christianity's spread influenced artistic expression, aligning with religious traditions.

Medieval Art

• Medieval art, spanning around 1000 years, featured a variety of media like illuminated manuscripts, paintings, and sculptures with religious themes.

Byzantine Art (400 - 1450 CE)

• Characterized by religious themes influenced by Christianity, prominent forms include paintings, mosaics, and illuminated manuscripts.

Romanesque Art (500 - 980 CE)

• Known for lavish decor in architecture and manuscripts, maintaining traditions from previous eras.

Gothic Art (1200 - 1400 CE)

• Originated from Romanesque styles, featuring monumental architecture and ornate cathedrals with large stained glass windows.

Renaissance (1400-1600)

• Marked by a revival of classical ideas and exploration of new techniques like linear perspective, focusing on human anatomy and nature.

• Artists of this period included influential figures like Michelangelo, Da Vinci, and Raphael.

Baroque (1600-1775)

• This era is known for dramatic expressions of movement and emotion in art, particularly in religious depictions.

Mannerism

• Mannerist artists created elongated figures, focusing on style and emotional expression, following Renaissance and Baroque traditions.

Rococo (1700-1800)

• A continuation of Baroque ornamentation, Rococo emphasized lavishness in design and decorative arts, representing royal luxury.

Neoclassicism (1700-1800)

• This movement sought to revive classical elements, steering away from ornate styles towards simplicity and order.

Romanticism & Realism (1700-1800)

• Romanticism focused on emotion and nature, distancing from social influences.

• Realism emerged in response to Romanticism, depicting objective reality and everyday scenes.

Impressionism (1886-1906)

• Characterized by vivid colors and loose brushwork, Impressionism explored the effects of light on everyday subjects, with artists like Monet.

Post-Impressionism

• This era saw artists like Van Gogh and Cezanne develop vivid colors and expressive techniques while focusing on geometric forms.

Summary

• The history of art reflects cultural changes, movements, and the evolution of techniques throughout time, illustrating humanity's diverse experiences and expressions.