Art-Resource-Guide (1) (3)
Introduction
This guide provides background on eighteen artworks produced in the United States (or by American artists abroad) during the 1920s and early 1930s.
The focus is on understanding key art forms and movements of the Jazz Age United States, exploring how the arts intersected with political, cultural, and social issues. This includes examining the influence of urbanization, industrialization, and the changing social norms on artistic expressions.
The guide aims to illuminate the diversity of artistic production after World War I, highlighting both mainstream and marginalized voices in the art world.
Section I provides background on art history methods and terminology, a global history of art, and a vocabulary for visual analysis. This section will equip readers with the tools to critically engage with art.
Section II covers the history of art in the United States leading up to the "Roaring Twenties," describing artistic conditions that allowed modernism to emerge. This includes the impact of European avant-garde movements and the development of distinctly American styles.
Section III explores changes in urban space, architecture, entertainment, and popular culture, and how the arts represented the modern city, including Prohibition's impact. This section will also discuss the rise of consumer culture and its reflection in art.
Section IV addresses the diversification of arts as artists drew inspiration from outside the nation’s borders and from Indigenous heritage, serving both political and aesthetic aims. This includes discussions of cultural exchange and appropriation.
Section V discusses art that responded to social conflicts, framing questions about industrial labor and engaging with the emergent civil rights movement. This section will examine the role of art as a form of social commentary and activism.
Note: Dates in art history can vary and are often contested. It is important to consider the context and sources when interpreting dates.
Section I: Art Fundamentals
Introduction to Art History
Art history is an academic discipline focused on reconstructing the social, cultural, and economic contexts of an artwork's creation. It involves rigorous research and analysis to understand the historical significance of art.
It aims to understand art and its meaning in its historical moment, considering:
Formal qualities: The visual elements of the artwork, such as color, line, and composition.
Function in its original context: The purpose the artwork served in its original setting, considering religious, political, and social factors.
Artist and patron goals: The intentions of the artist and the individual or group who commissioned the artwork.
Audience perspectives: How the artwork was perceived by its original audience and how those perceptions have changed over time.
Art history is related to anthropology, history, and sociology and overlaps with aesthetics and art criticism. It draws upon various disciplines to provide a comprehensive understanding of art.
This section provides an introduction to asking questions for a deeper understanding of art, encouraging critical thinking and analysis.
Methods and Inquiries of Art History
Art historians define "art" broadly, including visual material created by people with special meaning or aesthetic value. This inclusivity allows for a more comprehensive understanding of human expression.
Historically, focus was on "fine art" (paintings, prints, drawings, sculpture, architecture). The shift towards including other forms acknowledges the diverse range of human creativity.
Now, objects dismissed as "craft" (textiles, pottery, body art) and mass-produced items are considered. This expansion reflects a more democratic and inclusive approach to art history.
The meaning of art shifts over time and varies among viewers, highlighting the subjective and contextual nature of art interpretation.
Example: Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel paintings meant different things to the Pope and a floor cleaner due to social status, education, and access. This example illustrates how social position and knowledge influence art appreciation.
Meaning is not fixed but open to interpretations based on historical context, social status, education, religion, race, and gender. These factors shape how individuals perceive and understand art.
The Nature of Art Historical Inquiry
Art historians analyze art through formal analysis and contextual analysis, using these methods to uncover layers of meaning within artworks.
Formal analysis: focuses on visual qualities, assuming artist decisions reveal meaning. It involves observation and description. This method aims to understand how the artist's choices contribute to the overall message of the artwork.
Contextual analysis: looks outside the artwork to determine meaning, examining:
Cultural, social, religious, and economic context: The historical and societal conditions that influenced the creation of the artwork.
Patronage: The role of the individual or group who commissioned and supported the artist.
Viewer access: How the artwork was intended to be seen and experienced by its audience.
Physical location: The original location of the artwork and how it influenced its meaning.
Cost: The financial investment in the artwork, reflecting its perceived value.
Subject matter in relation to other artworks: How the artwork relates to other works of art in terms of themes, styles, and techniques.
Art history emphasizes chronological development within a cultural setting and uses comparative study to understand unique features and stylistic changes, relating them to historical context. This approach helps to trace the evolution of art and its relationship to broader historical trends.
Sources, Documents, and the Work of Art Historians
Art historians begin with close examination of artworks. Direct examination is ideal, but reproductions are often used due to practical constraints. Close observation of the artwork is essential for accurate analysis.
Art historians also consider associated studies (sketches, preparatory models) and other works by the artist and contemporaries. These additional materials provide insights into the artist's creative process and influences.
Written sources include letters, commission documents, and contemporary art criticism stored in archives or libraries. These documents shed light on the meaning and context of the artwork.
Researchers also seek documentation about materials, costs, function, literature, music, theater, and history of the period. A broad understanding of the historical context is necessary for a complete analysis.
Art historians may use interviews and anthropological methods like participant observation, especially in cultures relying on oral history. These methods help to gather firsthand accounts and cultural perspectives.
The Development of Art History
Art history emerged as an academic discipline in the mid-eighteenth century, marking a shift towards a more systematic and scholarly approach to the study of art.
Earlier writers provided commentary on art:
Pliny the Elder (23–79 CE): analyzed historical and contemporary art in Natural History, offering early insights into the history and theory of art.
Giorgio Vasari (1511–74): gathered biographies of Italian artists in The Lives of the Artists, establishing a biographical approach to art history.
Modern art history was influenced by Enlightenment philosophy.
Johann Joachim Winckelmann (1717–68): studied stylistic development related to historical context, shifting from Vasari's biographical emphasis. Winckelmann's approach laid the foundation for modern art historical analysis.
Revised histories acknowledge biases, particularly concerning the focus on white men. Feminist historians and other academics address this. Contemporary art history seeks to include diverse voices and perspectives.
Art history has broadened its scope, becoming international, multicultural, and inclusive, and focusing on "visual culture." This expansion reflects a more global and interdisciplinary approach to the study of art.
Brief Overview of the Art of the Western World
This overview provides a basic understanding of important art historical periods and key artistic innovations, serving as a foundation for further study.
Artifacts reveal early life on Earth. Objects remain from durable materials like stone, metal, or fired clay, providing valuable evidence of human history.
Environmental conditions impact preservation (e.g., Egypt's dry climate vs. West Africa's humid climate). The preservation of artifacts is influenced by environmental factors, affecting what we know about different cultures.
Art history has historically focused on Western cultures due to preservation and discovery. More recently, focus has been expanded to non-Western cultures, promoting a more balanced and inclusive understanding of art history.
Ancient Civilizations
Art of the Old Stone Age:
Cave paintings in Chauvet Cave (c. 30,000 BCE) depict animals using red ochre and black charcoal. These paintings provide insights into the beliefs and practices of early humans.
Cave paintings in Lascaux and Altamira feature large colored drawings of animals and outlines of human hands. May be connected to hunting rituals. The purpose and meaning of these paintings are subjects of ongoing research.
Small stone female figures (e.g., Venus of Willendorf) with exaggerated bellies, breasts, and pubic areas are thought to be fertility figures. These figures offer clues about the social and cultural values of Paleolithic societies.
Art of the Middle Stone Age:
Rock shelter paintings in eastern Spain (c. 7000–4000 BCE) depict animal and human figures, with an emphasis on human dominance over animals. These paintings reflect the changing relationship between humans and their environment.
Art of New Stone Age:
Rings and rows of megaliths (great stones) in Western Europe, such as Stonehenge (c. 2100 BCE), with concentric rings and post-and-lintel construction. The construction and purpose of these megalithic structures remain a mystery.
Art thrives in organized cultures with stable populations and ruling classes, who preserve art in inaccessible locations such as burial chambers, caves, and tombs. The preservation of art is linked to social and political structures.
Ancient Mesopotamian Art
Civilizations in Mesopotamia (Tigris and Euphrates Rivers) developed writing and arts alongside Egypt. Mesopotamia's rich history and cultural achievements rival those of Egypt.
Lacking natural barriers and using perishable materials, Mesopotamian history involves successive conquests and destruction. These factors influenced the development and preservation of Mesopotamian art.
Sumerians (c. 4000 BCE) built massive temples called ziggurats as city centers. Ziggurats served as both religious and administrative centers, reflecting the close relationship between religion and governance.
Akkadian dynasty (c. 2334 BCE) emphasized monarchy in art. Akkadian art promoted the power and authority of the ruling dynasty.
Neo-Sumerians built ziggurats as temples and administrative centers. The Neo-Sumerians revived Sumerian traditions, including the construction of ziggurats.
Babylonians, under Hammurabi (c. 1792 BCE), codified law (Code of Hammurabi). The stele with Hammurabi's code features a relief sculpture of Hammurabi receiving inspiration from the sun-god Shamash. This stele is an important example of early legal and artistic expression.
Assyrians (c. 900–600 BCE) created relief carvings of battles, sieges, and hunts. Assyrian art glorified military achievements and royal power.
Neo-Babylonian period (c. 612–538 BCE) saw construction of the hanging gardens of Babylon and the Ishtar Gate. These architectural wonders reflected the wealth and sophistication of the Neo-Babylonian empire.
Persian Art
Persian Empire (c. 538–330 BCE) flourished in present-day Iran. The Persian Empire was known for its vast territory and cultural achievements.
Impressive architectural achievements included the palace at Persepolis, reflecting Egyptian influence. Persepolis was a symbol of Persian power and cultural synthesis.
Ancient Egyptian Art
Ancient Egyptian civilization (c. 3000–332 BCE) includes monuments like the Sphinx, pyramids at Giza, statues of pharaohs, and the bust of Queen Nefertiti. Egyptian art is characterized by its grandeur, symbolism, and durability.
Egyptian art emphasizes hierarchical scale to determine figure size. Example: Palette of King Narmer depicts King Narmer larger than other figures. Hierarchical scale was used to indicate social status and importance.
Figures are presented using "fractional representation," where each body part is shown as clearly as possible. Fractional representation ensured that each body part was depicted in its most recognizable form.
Egyptian burial customs preserved mummified bodies with lavish furnishings such as King Tutankhamun's tomb and burial mask. These elaborate burial practices reflect the Egyptians' belief in the afterlife.
Nubian Art
The kingdom of Nubia was south of Egypt. Nubia and Egypt had a complex relationship, characterized by both cooperation and conflict.
A period when Nubia ruled Egypt, and the pharaohs were Nubian. This period is known as the 25th Dynasty and reflects the cultural exchange between Nubia and Egypt.
Greek and Roman Art
Cycladic, Minoan, and Mycenaean Art:
Aegean island cultures were precursors to the Greeks. These cultures laid the foundation for the development of Greek art and civilization.
Cycladic culture (c. 3200–2000 BCE) featured geometric nude female figures and decorated pottery. Cycladic art is characterized by its simplicity and geometric forms.
Minoan culture (Crete) centered around Knossos, featuring naturalistic pictorial style, frescoes, pottery designs, and unfortified palaces. Minoan art is known for its vibrant colors and depictions of nature and daily life.
Mycenaean culture (Greek mainland) built elaborate tombs and mastered goldsmithing. Mycenaean art is characterized by its monumental architecture and intricate metalwork.
Ancient Greek Art:
Archaic Period (c. 660–475 BCE): marble and limestone sculptures with frontal pose, Doric and Ionic temples, vase painting. Archaic Greek art is characterized by its stylized forms and increasing naturalism.
Classical Period (Athens): temples with Doric columns. Sculpture evolved from frontal poses to life-like figures and "contrapposto." Example: Parthenon. Classical Greek art is known for its harmony, balance, and idealized human forms.
Hellenistic Period: influence from Eastern civilizations. Freestanding sculptures like Venus de Milo and Laocoön Group present ideals of beauty. Hellenistic art is characterized by its drama, emotion, and realism.
Etruscan Art:
Etruscan civilization: transition from Greece to Rome, known from tomb decoration, ceramic models, and bronze work. Etruscan art reflects a unique blend of Greek and Italian influences.
Paintings in bright colors on tomb walls depict music and dancing. Etruscan tomb paintings provide insights into their beliefs about the afterlife.
Roman Art:
Roman art influenced by Etruscan and Greek art. Roman art drew upon the artistic traditions of both the Etruscans and the Greeks.
Romans pioneered architecture and engineering using concrete and curved arches for buildings, bridges, and aqueducts. Structures included the Colosseum and Pantheon. Roman architecture is characterized by its grandeur, practicality, and engineering innovations.
Sculptures included triumphal arches, funerary reliefs, and portraits. Republican sculptures aimed toward idealism rather than naturalism. Roman sculpture served a variety of purposes, including commemorating military victories and honoring important individuals.
Byzantine and Medieval Art
With the fall of the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire continued. Known for mosaic work in churches. The Byzantine Empire preserved and transformed Roman artistic traditions.
Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is one of the greatest architectural achievements. Hagia Sophia is a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture, known for its innovative design and lavish decoration.
During the Medieval period, art was preserved largely by the Church. The Church played a central role in the production and preservation of art during the Middle Ages.
Illuminated manuscripts were created in monasteries, facilitating artistic exchange. Examples include the Book of Kells and the Coronation Gospels. Illuminated manuscripts are valuable sources of information about medieval art and culture.
Germanic peoples and Vikings produced abstract metalwork and artistic ship carvings. Germanic and Viking art is characterized by its intricate patterns and stylized forms.
Later medieval architecture saw the building of churches in Romanesque and Gothic styles. Romanesque and Gothic architecture represent distinct phases in the development of medieval church design.
Romanesque churches used barrel vaults and had small windows. Example: Saint-Sernin. Romanesque architecture is characterized by its massive walls and rounded arches.
Gothic style (12th-16th centuries) featured pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses, allowing for larger windows and higher ceilings. Example: Chartres Cathedral. Gothic architecture is known for its soaring heights, light-filled interiors, and intricate ornamentation.
The Renaissance in Southern Europe
The transition from medieval period to Renaissance was complex, blending styles. Giotto di Bondone is associated with this transition. Giotto used perspective and emotional expressions. Giotto's work represents a bridge between medieval and Renaissance art.
Paper money and the patronage of wealthy families, like the Medici, played a key part in the Renaissance. Economic and social changes played a crucial role in the flourishing of the Renaissance.
Greek and Roman art examples had a tremendous impact on Renaissance art. The rediscovery of classical art and literature inspired Renaissance artists.
Emphasis shifted to individual artists. The Renaissance saw a rise in the recognition and celebration of individual artistic talent.
Artists shifted from artisans to intellectual figures. Renaissance artists were increasingly regarded as intellectuals and scholars.
Competition of 1401 (Florence):
Lorenzo Ghiberti won for the doors of the Florence baptistery, harkening back to classical Greece. Michelangelo called them the “Gates of Paradise.” Ghiberti's doors are considered a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture.
Filippo Brunelleschi lost the competition but completed the dome of Florence cathedral and invented linear perspective. Brunelleschi's dome is an engineering marvel and a symbol of the Renaissance.
Masaccio used linear and aerial perspective in frescoes. Masaccio's frescoes demonstrate the innovative use of perspective in Renaissance painting.
Donatello was the founder of modern sculpture. Bronze statue of David was the first known freestanding nude statue since antiquity. Donatello's David is a groundbreaking work of Renaissance sculpture.
Botticelli (Birth of Venus) established an image of female beauty. Botticelli's Birth of Venus is an iconic image of Renaissance art.
The Renaissance witnessed two well-known artists: Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, who are the models for the term “Renaissance Man.” Leonardo and Michelangelo were both accomplished artists, scientists, and inventors.
Leonardo da Vinci: Invention and Art
Leonardo was an inventor, architect, engineer, painter, sculptor, scientist, and musician.
Two famous paintings are the Last Supper and the Mona Lisa (Sfumato).
Michelangelo:
Michelangelo Buonarotti was given commission from the city to have a statue created from a piece of marble that had a large crack in the middle: statue of David. Michelangelo's David is a symbol of Florentine civic pride.
Pope Julius granted Michelangelo commission to create ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The Sistine Chapel ceiling is one of the greatest achievements of Renaissance art.
Raphael Sanzio was an influential painter of the High Renaissance, making sumptuous frescoes and paintings of the Madonna. Raphael's paintings are known for their beauty, harmony, and grace.
Venice also became a center of artistic creativity. Venice developed its own distinct artistic traditions during the Renaissance.
Giorgione made innovations in the subject matter of landscapes The Tempest
Titian Vecelli was greatest colorist of the Renaissance artists and portrayed patrons by the use and arrangement of background elements, instead of an atmospheric neutral background, as had been the custom. Titian's use of color and composition influenced generations of artists.
Tintoretto was often linked with an artistic style called Mannerism that grew in popularity in the late sixteenth century. Mannerism developed as a reaction against the classical ideals of the High Renaissance.
Mannerist works are characterized by the distortions of scales and acidic colors.
The most well known of the Mannerist Painters and strong religious fervor came from Dominikos Theotokopoulos, known as El Greco.
The Renaissance in Northern Europe
During the fifteenth century, Northern European artworks were smaller in scale than contemporaneous artists to the south due to the use of oil paints. The development of oil painting allowed for greater detail and realism in Northern European art.
Unlike Italy, The Renaissance of classical influence did. not readily transfer north due the geographic separation from Italy by the Alps. The Northern Renaissance developed its own distinct characteristics.
During Germany's Reformation, Matthias Grünewald’s (Isenheim Altarpiece) and Albrecht Dürer (The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse) are often considered the greatest artists of the Renaissance in northern Europe. Grünewald and Dürer are masters of Northern Renaissance art.
Also, Hans Holbein the Younger was the most popular artist, who modeled psychological character of his subjects, to paint for King Henry the 8th of England. Holbein's portraits are known for their realism and psychological insight.
Baroque Art
The Baroque era is characterized by greater movement and energy, and artworks tended to be less static than Renaissance styles. Baroque art is dynamic, dramatic, and emotionally charged.
Baroque art appealed largely to the emotions, which were influenced by the Counter-Reformation with dramatic and moving appeals to faith. The Counter-Reformation inspired a new emphasis on religious art.
Artists used light and dark to create a theatrical kind of lighting that made the subject appear to be in a spotlight. This dramatic use of light and shadow is known as chiaroscuro.
Caravaggio was famous for using Baroque painters, and any artworks that use an extreme dark and light scheme are termed “caravaggesque.” Caravaggio's style had a profound impact on Baroque painting.
Also, Artemisia Gentileschi (1593?–1652?) was well known adapting Carravaggio’s techniques. Gentileschi was one of the most important female artists of the Baroque period.
Gianlorenzo Bernini also did Baroque style art throughout Europe and did most of the work with sculptures and talented architect, painter, and draftsman. Bernini was a versatile artist who excelled in sculpture, architecture, and painting.
Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–69) was another Dutch artist, and created some of the best-known works from the Baroque period. He mainly did self-portraits with emotional impact on his subjects. Rembrandt's self-portraits offer a deep insight into the artist's inner life.
The Baroque period peaked in France with Louis XIV, and his long reign was marked by a blossoming of French culture. Louis XIV was a major patron of the arts.
Diego Velázquez, court painter of King Philip IV of Spain tried to emulate the court of France. Velázquez is considered one of the greatest Spanish painters.
Rococo, Neoclassicism, and Romanticism
Rococo style may be seen as an extension of the Baroqueperiod, but it focused more on romance and elegance with light hearted decoration and pastel colors. Rococo art is characterized by its elegance, grace, and playful themes.
Three artists known for their aristocratic patronage: Watteau, Boucher, and Fragonard
The Revolution of 1789 in France ushered in an era of democratic republic that was reflected in the artwork of the time. The French Revolution had a profound impact on art and culture.
Neoclassicism style was epitomized in the work of Jacques Louis David, and challenged the political and social revolution of Rococo . Neoclassical art is characterized by its emphasis on order, reason, and classical ideals.
Romancism style emphasized hearkening back to the Baroque ways but focused on an unorganized pattern with lines and cooler tones, in attempt to be highly imaginative and emotional. Romantic art is characterized by its emphasis on emotion, imagination, and individualism.
Realism and Impressionism
Inspired by Illustrating all the features of their subjects, the Realism style and showing their lives as ordinary people, who are just as important as the themes that dominated most art exhibits. Realism sought to depict the world as it is, without idealization or romanticism.
Gustave Courbet’s The Stonebreakers represented this movement forcefully, as well Honoré Daumier and Jean-François Millet.
Impressionism grew out of the rigid rules that came to dominate the Salons that we're held to identify select artists each year. Impressionism challenged the traditional academic art world.
Édouard Manet , often referred to as the first Impressionist, influenced the new generation with his work showing light by using bright and contrasting colors. Manet's work paved the way for the development of Impressionism.
Claude Monet showed a work called Impression, Sunrise (1872), and that became a movement the critics ridiculed, and labeled as Impressionalism. Monet's Impression, Sunrise gave the Impressionist movement its name.
Monet urged his artists to work outdoors aided with technical brushes and paint to rapidly change light. Other impressionists also used visions to create new colors in their work. Impressionists sought to capture the fleeting effects of light and color.
Post-Impressionism and Other Late Nineteenth-Century Developments
Paul Cézanne placed emphasis on the idea that painting could be structured based on cube,sphere,or cone, which would influence Cubism later. Cézanne's emphasis on form influenced the development of Cubism.
Georges Seurat emphasis on science and the scientific rules of Color using optical mixing.
Van Gogh use theories of color and direct application of paint to capture the bright light and violent brush strokes create emotion. Intense colors should show in human emotions.
The search for intense light and clear color also has Paul Gauguin known for intense use of color and tropical settings.
Photography invention asked questions of what artist should capture in ordinary art. The invention of photography had a profound impact on the art world.
Impressionist Edgar Degas exemplified snapshot style and new influences.
The Pre-Raphaelites attempted to ban together a movement and return to old traditions from theRenaissance.
The Emergence of Modernism
Henri Matisse Led group of artists that stived to discover new ways present new ideas by extended the boundaries of colors.
Naturalistic form was attacked as Picasso and George broke down and analyzed form in new ways.
Emotions were emphasized by combining intense colors with intense feeling. Examples: Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Evil Nolde.
Expressionist group in Russian known artists, Vasily Kandinsky, began painting abstract pictures and subject. Other total abstraction pioneers were Russian Painter Kazimir Malevich and the Dutch artists Piet Mondrian.
It was these beginnings, coupled with the effects of the First World War, that were partly responsible for the eventual shift of the center of the art world from Paris to New York.
The Armory Show, arranged by the Barnes Foundation and held from February 17 through March 15, 1913, was the first major showing of modern art in the U.S., and it caused a sensation. Marcel Duchamp’s and Picasso’s shocking approach challenged traditions.
Quintessentially Americans also saw centers growing in Harlem. Jazz became writers and artist of the Movement.
Challenged ideals arose during this period of artistic growth. This movement called Dada, aimed to protest, ridicule values, and lampoon of accepted normal.
Marcel Duchamp create ready-mades by just creating an object merely through the artist choice.
Sigmund and Freudian theories of mind made artworks to portray works.
Bauhaus in design that help design stream lined designs in furnishing and buildings.
Abstraction
Art came to a virtual standstill during WWII, however upon the European recovery of the War.
The art world shifted headquarters to New York creating a new international scene.
Critics writing led by Harold Rosenberg and Clement Greenberg chose to promote particular views of arts and advocate for abstraction.
These artist aimed that art could be like in the non objected style (Music)
Jackson Pollock dripped colors directly on canvas. and the abstract expressionist artists used Action techniques, by brushing over the canvas.
Color field paintings were also made with geometric forms in which Mark Rothko and Josef Albers we're know painter.
Pop Art, Minimalism, and Photorealism
Pop arts violated rules by incorporating mass into the culture.
Andy Warhol achieved success though pop culture.
Roy Lichtenstein created big comic book patterns and images.
Robert Indiana used stencils to make images.
Earthworks, Installations, and Performance
Artist no longer had their work confined to the galleries, instead created Earth Work and installation to make art through unique methods and views of the artist.
Performance Art are people who became art. The point is to create an event and participate audiences without creating a fixed image to be sold.
Postmodern Art used to react what happened during Modernism. A leading factor that cause post Modern Art Philip Johnson.
Brief Overview of Nonwestern Art
There are limitations from histories due to cultural and academic discipline from feminism critics.
Also has increased inclusion of art histories from other cultures (Asia, Africa, Oceania, theAmericas).
This is not an survey covering fraction of what is in the the borders of Western Culture
Asian Art
Chinese- Art and civilizations been presents thousands of years with archaeological finds.
Wall found from ancient Chinese art, covering thousands of miles. from the stone, metal, fire clay, and the hot dry climates
Qin dynasty left elaborate tombs (Monuments), terracotta, bronze vessels.
Chinese writing, painting, and sculpture maintained over the centuries.With communism in 1949, at became political until the 1970 the Chinese started to reduce to police use of the art.
India- 1,600 Different dialects, old artistic traditions, Buddhist traditions as a strong example of Greek art.- Examples: Shiva sculptures are the most striking.
Japanese- Art was not very connected to West which allowed is to remain consistent.
Buddhism import from China (Also in traditional art).
Influence of the renaissance where the Japan see line per space but reject it due to flat area of culture favor- (Japanese painting, architecture, crafts, and sculpture).
African and Oceanic Art
Relates northern Africa with relationships and histories and cultures.
Sub-Saharan African separates this type of culture more for those regions and histories.
In Namibia cave art is found.
Nigeria had sculptures, portrait political, religious with Benin, kingdoms
Much African out face with early destroyed and European settlers. Westerners saw it as a pagan symbol and wanted to remove and destroy preservation. Unfortunately many objects were lost in archeology with losing cultural information with it.Traditions of art is challenged in Wester Concepts that is crucial to knowing objects. African culture groups such as the Dan and the Bwa recognize the uses of masks. (Masks are not show cased in art museums well.)
In Oceana are lost a results for culture materials and hostile weather condition.
Islamic Art
Islam is major religion (Historically). Muhammad started teachings which is recorded is their holy text Koran. Based on art is not largely figurative but abstract or can be called on Islamic Art as a whole.
The Americas
Many years of historic cultures classified that these art pieces was by simple craftsmanship.
Great number of cultures include Olmec, Toltec, Maya, Inca, and Aztec and these pyramids are the central figure.
They used architecture skills to build Pueblo, which are remarkable skill.
Elements of Art
Important to remember the formal qualities to consider. Elements include Line, Shape,Space, Scale, Color, Texture.
These all incorporate with one another to build a base in artworks, and that formalize an artist concept and creation.
Line- Most basic art element. Path of point moving through space (Direction, Length, Width all part).
Shape, and Form -Relate to which shape is 2d object area, and where form is the 3d object having height, width and depth etc.
Space- art is related to organization. Positive space object shape or forms (Picture).
ThreeD artworks include (ARCHITECTURE, CERAMIC,OBJECT, AND SCULPTURE- that includes freemasonry and relief
High relieff- that have bold projection, and bass rely and are low relief and project slightly form sculpturePerspective- creation and Illusion to depth for spacing
Shading and highlighter, Object size / plane, detail of size, atmosphere in the scene
At-Most important to remember space but artist will have a horizon to draw closer to the point.
Color- All around use. There are three primary colors red, blue and yellow. (Mixing will give another flavor).
(Adding white or black or other will modify the color and intensity).
Colors that can give visual can warm (red-orange) or cold (Blue-Violet)
Values change can depend on lighting as well, so color value does vary.Texture- The sense of how object would feel if they were touched with our experiences. These are two types
Actual/ Visual textures that are incorporated in the artwork.
Composition Art- Organization. There are few main technique artists use to manipulate art
Rythum- Moment or Pattern.
Balance-Equal distribution (Symmetrical, Assymetrical).- Symmetrical- equal distance from the distance (Axis)
Asymmetrical- Organiza like object and requires complex skill as there is a lot of variables. (Size, Distance, ETC)
Contrast by color, value and size creates interest and draws I to follow the pattern or theme the artists is drawing forth (Focal Points). This leads to direction and more organized theme.
Propsition-Size of a composition and relates to human scale that makes us relative to the work.
Processes and Techniques
Two-dimensional:
drawing, printmaking, painting, photography, andsome mixed media (height and width)
Three-dimensional:
sculpture, other works in mixed media, and environmental art (height, width and depth in space)
Drawing
Drawing - most basic process. pencil, pen and ink, charcoal, crayon, and felt-tip pens; papers vary from smooth to rough and also range in color - lines vary dramatically
change in pencil pressure will result more in value to shading as the distance and clustering determines darker
Shading technique by hatching (Lining Closer for shade), Gross hatch (criss Crossing),
Stippling- (Patters of dots that form to shade).
Ink thining and water adding results in translucency of the ink (transparent coverage) and use of pastels and Colored pencil.
Printmaking
Mechanically Aided 2D Processes that cause artwork production. *Tools- Printing Plates
Materials that vary the output.
Relief Printmaking Artists cut away and leaving remaining parts that when roll ink over will make a surface or image on the paper. All cut sections will be original paper color.
Intaglio Printmaking Artist curve in line or surface plate then will be used to transfer plate to form image, acid (Etching) will help in this to erode the material and ink the paper that pass though it all.
Lithography Wax pencil create image that harden and then ink the area that isn't wax so that it will copy over on printer (Drawing Can Be Made).
Painting
Consist of Materials- Pigments, Binders and Solvents.
Also vary with the tool from brushes, sticks and knives all play a roll in how the artist present the art. Types include walls or paper or the use of surface.- Types:- Fresco : Usually (Secco, and Buon fresco mix water with powder paints on walls that mix
Traditional: Water vs Oil painting (Oil is a very versatile, to be able to change and apply to different kinds of art.)
Neutral color = (Black and White)
Encaustic wax fusion or surface for fusion surface with heat
Gouache is a high grade variant for temperature is similar but opaque.
Transparent - Watercolors
Synthetic Materials and acrylics for fast change of paint between the world wars.
Photography
New addition to the art field for it's ability to now document and pressure other art forms.
While many say it is merely a photo capturing device, many used to show what art through a photographer or camera lens.
Photographers are still finding new tech available for the new generation and how to express the form.
Sculpture
4 Basic Way
Sculpture
4 Basic Ways: Carving, Modeling, Casting, and Construction. Surface finishes are often applied, including attachments or reliefs.
Carving: A subtractive process involving the removal of material from a solid block (e.g., stone, wood, or ivory) using tools like chisels, gouges, and saws. Carving allows the artist to reveal the form within the material.
Modeling: An additive process where a soft or pliable material (e.g., clay, wax, or plaster) is built up and shaped to create a form. The artist manipulates the material, adding or subtracting to achieve the desired result.
Casting: Involves creating a mold and then pouring a liquid material (e.g., bronze, plaster, or resin) into the mold. Once the material hardens, the mold is removed, leaving a cast sculpture. This method allows for the creation of multiple copies of a sculpture.
Construction: An assemblage process where different materials (e.g., metal, wood, plastic, or found objects) are joined together using techniques such as welding, soldering, gluing, or bolting. Construction allows for complex and dynamic forms.
Kinetic Sculpture: Movement is a key element in many modern works, creating motion through air flow, motors, or other mechanical means. Kinetic sculptures engage with the viewer through their dynamic qualities.
Mixed Media
Involves the combination of multiple different materials and media, often integrating items such as fabric, rope, dishes, and other found objects with 2D or 3D artworks.
Collage: A technique where various materials are adhered to a surface to create a new image or composition. Materials can include paper, fabric, photographs, and other ephemera.
Assemblage: Similar to collage but involves three-dimensional objects arranged to create a sculpture or installation. Assemblage often incorporates found objects and recycled materials.
Artists like Rauschenberg and Cornell utilized mixed media techniques to add emphasis and layers of meaning to their artworks.
Masks in various cultures serve as examples of mixed media artwork, often combining diverse materials for symbolic and functional purposes.
Performance Art
Art form where the artist engages directly with the audience, often involving viewers to create new kinds of artistic experiences beyond traditional genres.
Performance art is used to express ideas and concepts, rather than create a tangible, marketable object. It emphasizes the action, event, and experience.
Craft and Folk Art
Art that emphasizes beauty, functionality, and unique cultural traditions. Craft and folk art are increasingly recognized for their artistic value and cultural significance.
Pottery: Functional and decorative objects made from clay, shaped by hand or using a potter's wheel, and fired in a kiln.
Fiber Arts: Includes quilting, weaving, embroidery, and other techniques that use natural or synthetic fibers to create textiles and decorative objects.
Woodworking: Involves shaping wood to create functional or decorative objects, using techniques such as carving, joinery, and turning.
Architecture
The art and science of designing and constructing buildings or other structures to provide functional spaces for human use, including houses and shelters.
Materials: Traditional materials include sticks, mud, wood, and stone, while modern architecture incorporates steel, concrete, glass, and other engineered materials.
Construction Styles: Well-known construction styles include post-and-lintel, arch, vault, dome, and cantilever. Roman and Greek architectural styles have had a lasting impact on building design.
Gothic Architecture: Characterized by its skeleton-like structure, pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses, which allowed for larger windows and higher ceilings in churches and cathedrals.
Revolution in Building Materials: The Industrial Revolution introduced new materials like crystal, iron, and electric lighting, transforming architectural possibilities.
Architects seek aesthetic designs that go beyond mere functionality, challenging the notion that buildings must be simple boxes.
Wood and stick construction methods continue to be used, often incorporating modern engineering designs for greater strength and efficiency.
Section I Summary
Art history is an academic discipline focused on reconstructing the social, cultural, and economic contexts of an artwork. Direct engagement with archival sources deepens our understanding of studied works.
The history of Western art is often studied chronologically, providing a framework for understanding artistic developments over time.
Ancient cultures in Mesopotamia, the Aegean islands, Greece, and Rome have significantly influenced Western art and the use of durable materials.
Religious institutions, particularly the Church, played a vital role in preserving art and connecting it with cultural and religious traditions.
Christianity profoundly influenced social and economic shifts, contributing to the reformation and preservation of Roman Empire art.
The development of linear perspective and a greater sense of naturalism enhanced the presence and emotional impact of art in both secular and religious contexts.
Revolutionary periods in art history led to the creation of neoclassical and romantic movements, capturing new emotional and aesthetic dimensions.
The rejection of traditional notions like unity and balance became a defining characteristic of much modern art.
Realism focused on capturing ordinary, everyday life, emphasizing the importance of ordinary people and scenes.
The art world is continually expanding with new artistic views, techniques, and global influences.
Modernism's emergence, marked by movements like Cubism, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, reflects diverse global influences and a spirit of innovation.
The United States, particularly New York City, became a central hub for artistic innovation, shifting focus from Europe.
Nonwestern art: Often studied in different methods to explore it such as China for art and bronze (Asia Culture)
African that mix function and art and are often destroyed
Christian religion -Nonfigure, Arabic, that is very important in the cult