AP ART HISTORY Indigenous Americas

AP Art History: Indigenous Americas

Theme: Incorporation of Natural World

• Emphasizes contact and unity with nature, reflecting the spiritual and environmental beliefs of Indigenous cultures.

• Explores complex concepts like cosmic geometry, often representing celestial bodies and their influence on life through art.

• Uses natural objects as both subjects and mediums in artwork, incorporating materials such as stone, wood, and plant fibers, which reflect the region's ecosystem and available resources.

Historical Context: Art of the Americas

Pre-Columbian Era

• Spanning before Columbus' arrival to the Americas, the art reflects the diverse cultural practices of Indigenous peoples.

• Development of large city-states and powerful empires, mainly in Mesoamerica (e.g., Aztec and Maya civilizations) and South America (e.g., Inca Empire).

• Predominantly agricultural societies with varied levels of technological advancement; irrigation, terracing, and crop diversification were common.

• Knowledge in fields such as medicine, astronomy, and engineering was highly developed in some cultures, influencing art through motifs representing celestial objects and agricultural cycles.

Post-Columbian Era

• Marked by the destruction of Indigenous cultures and arts due to European colonization, resulting in significant loss of traditional practices and languages.

• Introduction of European styles, materials (e.g., oil paints), and forced conversion to Catholicism led to a hybridization of artistic styles.

• Resulted in the widespread adoption of Christian practices among Indigenous peoples in Latin America, often merging traditional beliefs with new religious elements, visible in contemporary Indigenous art.

Artistic Innovations: Art of the Americas

• Mastery of local materials for creating artworks, demonstrating skilled craftsmanship and aesthetics aligned with cultural significance.

• Engagement in long-distance trade for additional materials, which facilitated cultural exchange and innovation in artistic techniques.

• Common artists worked under state or tribal leaders, while a few gained status and recognition as elite or master artisans; the role of the artist varied widely from functional to ceremonial significance, with art often serving community and spiritual purposes.