The contemporary world is an ever-changing

THE HISTORY
mix of social and political changes.
There are circumstances and ideas of the

OF ART
present age where it deals with problems
and issues related to environment,
population, wealth, power, tensions, and
conflicts.
 ANCIENT PERIOD1500 BC
Four Characteristics
• Some of the oldest known forms of art can be found in caves, most

are found in the network of caves in South West France called

Lascaux

• It's believed they used soot from their torches and pigments of

yellow, red, black, brown and violet from the ground

 ANCIENT PERIOD1500 BC
Four Characteristics
• No brushes were found so they applied color by chunks of moss,

hair or raw color

• Most cave paintings were of animals both the ones they fear and eat
Artist of this time: People
in Western Europe;
France and Spain and
also Egyptians

Major development: First

known communication
with pictographs and
symbols
 ROCOCO ART 1700s
Four Characteristics
• Many aspects of art, including painting's, sculpture's, architecture,
interior design, music & theatre
• Colors are mostly soothing & mostly used with light pastels
• Figures are all tall & willowy, stylish & charming
• Rococo's painting feature beautiful & elegant framing
ROCOCO ART
1700s
Artist of the time : Joshua
Reynolds

Major development on of this

time
• 1776, United States declared
independence from Great
Britain
 EXPRESSIONISM1905-1925
Four Characteristics
• A term used to denote the use of distortion and exaggeration for emotional
effect
• Expressionism uses intense color, agitated brushstrokes and disjointed space
• Subjects, emotions and responses to the object being painted, this is
accomplished by; distortion, exaggeration and fantasy
• Its goal is not to reproduce the impression by the surrounding world, but how
the artist sees it
Artist of that
time: Van Gogh

Major
development:
Television (1925)
 CUBISM1908-1914
Four Characteristics
• Cubism art was one of the few landscape
• Cubism was also used to paint portraits
• The artwork of Paul Cezanne is said to have been one of the main
inspiration for cubism
• Popular subjects for cubism included musical instruments, people,
bottle glasses & playing cards
Artist of the time :
Created by Pablo Picasso
& George Barque

Major development on
of this time
• 1900s, the first Afghan
war happened
 POP ART 1950-1960
Four Characteristics
• Pop art is meant to be fun
• Segan in the 1950s but become very popular in the 1960s
• Something smillar to pop art like Op [Link] optical ilusion to
trick the eye
• This art is made by commercial items & cultural icons such as,
labels,, advertisements & movie stars
Artist of the time :
Richard Hamilton

Major development
on of this time
• 1950s, first tv remote
control came out
 RENAISSANCE PERIOD
Four Characteristics
• Renaissance 1400's
• It is a Distinct style in Italy, mostly in Florence Italy
• Renaissance means "rebirth"
• It was determined to move away from the religion-dominated
middle ages and turn its attention to individual man in society
• Leonardo da Vinci represents the humanistic values of the time
period in his art
 RENAISSANCE PERIOD
Four Characteristics
• Renaissance 1400's
• -Its a Distinct style in Italy, mostly in Florence Italy
• -Renaissance means "rebirth"
• -It was determined to move away from the religion-dominated middle ages and turn its attention to
individual man in society
• -Leonardo da Vinci represents the humanistic values of the time period in his art
• Artist of that time: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael
• Major development: Christopher Columbus discovered America (1492)
Artist of that time: Leonardo
da Vinci, Michelangelo,
Raphael

Major development:
Christopher Columbus
discovered America (1492)
 THE ORIGINS OF ART

• Throughout history, art has served as a reflection of culture and beliefs

as well as technology and human advancement
• Art has been used to express opinions and points of view
• Art evokes and defines historical periods
• Art can communicate thoughts, evoke emotion, raise questions
• It takes a variety of forms and mediums and is not defined by any
specific set of rules
• Art is a natural part of life
 Prehistoric Art

• The era before the written word (before recorded history)

• Theorized motivations for creation of Art: magical powers,
fertility, rituals, horticultural calendar
• People crafted tools out of necessity.
• Paleolithic art included paintings on cave walls and sculptures
carved from stone and ivory
• Common subjects were women and animals.
 HOUSE AT MEZHIRICH, UKRAINE

• Estimated: 16,000-10,000 B.C.E.

• Early humans built dwellings out of mammoth bones and animal
skins. This is an example of how need for survival led to creation.
• This structure is interesting since mammoths are such massive
creatures and killing the animal and using its parts is an
indication of power and strength.
 LASTING INFLUENCE: PREHISTORIC ART

• One major contribution from this time was the post-and-lintel

arrangement where two vertical stones supported a horizontal
capstone. This was used in their stone structures (ie. Stonehenge) but
carried over into later architecture.
 Ancient (Near Eastern Art)

• Mesopotamia: fertile area between Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

• Cuneiform (the first writing system) developed
 SUMERIAN ART

• Honored gods
• Known for temples
• Used art to display power –
sculpture
• Worshiped their kings
BABYLONIAN
& ASSYRIAN
ART

• Expressed royal
power
• Built ornate
palaces
• Temple
construction
inspired by the
Jewish faith and
Hebrew
traditions
 PERSIAN ART

• Large and powerful empire

• Palaces designed to
symbolize power and
longevity
• Military focus
The Law Code of
Hammurabi
• is one of the best surviving displays of
cuneiform. It is important in that it
elucidates the laws and rules in Babylon
under King Hammurabi: establishment
of a legal system is crucial in the
development of civilization. It is also
important because it shows the
interests and focus of art at that time on
rulers
LASTING INFLUENCE:

• These Mesopotamian cultures were the forerunners in using

architecture as an artistic expression with a message. With them,
we see the first elaborate palaces, temples, and royal & religious
centers.
 EGYPTIAN ART

• Known for monumental pyramids, funerary objects, carvings,

sculpture
• Used Hieroglyphics – developed written language
• Polytheistic – focused on the pharaoh (believed to be a god) and
highly valued the afterlife
• When representing humans, physical features were used to indicate
qualities
 EGYPTIAN ART

• Built temples to their gods like Mesopotamian cultures

• Art surrounded funerary complexes and architecture
• Art stylization, thought that rigidity that made them eternal,
preservation for an eternal presence/ journey through afterlife
• Mummification and coffins for preservation of Pharaoh god
• Size and elaborateness of pyramid was a sign of respect and greatness
Egyptian Art: A Cultural Legacy
• Egyptian art reflects the ancient culture's beliefs, values, and
worldview, spanning over three millennia of history.
EGYPTIAN ART
• The cover of the coffin of
Tutankhamun is detailed and made
from gold, glass, and semiprecious
stones. It is a testament to the
Egyptian’s comfortable wealth.
 AEGEAN ART (Mediterranean region
Early Cycladic, Minoan Art )

• Built palaces
• Wall paintings inspired by Rituals and Nature
• Made pottery and painted vessels
 AEGEAN ART (Mycenean Art)

• Constructed tombs
• Made death masks out of metal
 GREEK ART
• Greece is considered the birthplace of Western Civilization
where Democratic government developed
• They explored a "higher" level of arts: Architecture,
Philosophy, Sculpture, Theatre, Painting, Literature
• They emphasized visual order geomectricness, perfection,
harmony and balance
 GREEK ART
• They built temples using the post and lintel system of
construction
• Their art featured Realism and emphasized the beauty
of the human body
• A common inspiration were the gods and goddesses.
Theater at Built in the third century, this stone theater
Epidauros was built into the hillside for festivals and
entertainment
 ETRUSCAN ART
• Etruscan art was centered around funerary rituals and their monumental
tombs
• They made sculptures with Terra Cotta and Bronze
 ETRUSCAN ART
• This image is painted on plaster in
the tomb of the Anina Family. The
two figures are allegedly leading
souls into the afterlife. They
allegedly could reflect the
"downturn in Etruscan fortunes"
during this time in Rome's history
• This depiction is gloomier in
comparison to the immortalizing art
associated with Egyptian burial.
 ROMAN ART
• The Romans were very militaristic and focused on expanding their
Empire which was reflected in their artistic endeavors.
• They are known for their advances in engineering including paved roads,
aqueducts, concrete, the arch, barrel vault, and dome. Their architectural
innovations are still used today.
• Their sculptures were very realistic and usually political - their subjects
were often leaders and gods
• Largely inspired by the Greeks
 ROMAN ART
• Portrait Group of the Tetrarchs -
Basilica of San Marco, Venice
• This sculpture from the Late Empire
displays the shift into a more
abstract style. Their closeness and
lack of individuality indicates that
power rests in the office of the
emperor rather than the individual.
It also expresses equality and
solidarity.
• Lastly, their elaborate military dress
is characteristic of the Roman
Empire
 Jewish, Early Christian, and Byzantine Art
• After the fall of the Roman Empire, religions took political power.
Jewish Art
• Known for
Synagogues
• Used Hebrew,
Greek, and Aramaic
languages
Early
Christian Art
• Beginning around 200 C.E.
• Christianity was endorsed by the
Emperor Constantine
• Built churches and Basilicas
• Decorated with mosaic depictions
of biblical events
• Designed illuminated manuscripts
• Sculpture incorporated classicism
and was reminiscent of Rome
Byzantine Art

• built large, spacious basilicas

• Insides of churches were decorated
lavishly with detailed designs and
mosaics
• Made illustrated books, similar to
the Graeco-Roman style, typically
of biblical narratives
• The design of many churches today
still incorporates elements from this
time.
CHRIST ICON (Monastery of St.
Catherine, Mount Sinai, Egypt)

• Iconography was definitive of the Byzantine Empire

under Justinian. Icons are religious images meant to
aid in worship.
• This Icon of Jesus Christ is notable for being bright
and vibrant and using light and shading. The direct
eye-contact he seems to make with the beholder
indicates its purpose as a "divine tool“
• Icons eventually caused controversy as many worried
they were being revered more highly than the
Eucharist and were banned p(.180). This is an early
example of the battle between Church and State.
 ISLAMIC ART
• Islamic art formulated its own, unique style incorporating elements from
Graeco-Roman, Byzantine, Christian, and Sasanian forms
• Their mosque buildings, with iconic domes and columnar architecture
communicate tradition, permanence, wealth, and power. Fine artwork such as
carving and oriental rugs were a luxury for royals.
• A resemblance of their Kufic script appears later in Italian Renaissance
paintings.
• SHAH KULU - Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul
 ISLAMIC ART
SHAH KULU - Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul
• Intricately painted tiles were a core of Islamic art. These tiles were
painted by hand in the Ottoman Court Style by an artist
commissioned to design for the royals in the palace - visual beauty
in the buildings was highly esteemed.
• The Ottoman Empire was vastly powerful economically and so
patronized the arts.
• This tile paining attracted me simply because of the bright, blue
and turquoise colors which do not seem to appear quite as often in
older art.
 ISLAMIC ART
SHAH KULU - Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul
 EARLY MEDIEVAL ART
• Germanic people entering Europe brought art with them like weaving,
metalwork, jewelry, and wood carving. The Animal Style emerged in their use
of stylized animal-like forms and abstractness

• Additionally, manuscripts were an art for propagated by the Irish monks to

preserve and pass down stories. Under Charlemagne, the Holy Roman
Emperor, arts flourished such as bronze sculpture and Illuminated books.
During this time, the architecture observed in churches boasts height and
domes supported by piers
• This is the decorative front
cover of the Lindau Gospels. It
displays the reverence to written
word. It is made of gold and
semiprecious stones.
• This depiction of Christ is not
painful or sorrowful, rather
simple and solemn. The cross on
which he hangs is the Latin
cross, one of the most common
in Western art
 GERO CRUCIFIX - Cologne
Cathedral, Germany

• Contrastingly, in this depiction of Christ

he is dead and visibly suffering. It is
painted on Gilded Wood and the three
dimensionality indicates weight and pain
• This displays the contrast of Ottonian art
under heavy German Power. The
authority of the Church increased and art
was meant show imperial grandeur. This
crucifix was controversial in its humane
appeal to pathos.
 ROMANESQUE ART
• Formed from a compilation of Roman, Carolingian, Ottonian,
Christian, Byzantine, and Islamic influences
• Resurrected large-scale sculpture with stone. Architecture was
characterized by stone-vaulted buildings with decorative wall
arcades.
• The churches were massive with round arches, pillars for support,
groin vaults, and large towers.
 ROMANESQUE ART
• During the Romanesque period, artistic manuscripts
were still produced as the monastic communities
remained prominent groups. This illustration was
made at a monastery and in it, St. Matthew appears to
be starting his Gospel.
• The letter L is from "liber" which means "book."
Much like the icons from the early middle ages, St.
Matthew directly faces the viewer in bold colors with
distinct outlines, contrasting the decorative and free
floral patterns and animal figures
 GOTHIC ART
• Emerged in France with the fall of feudalism and the rise of the middle class
and guilds
• Architecture of Cathedrals is characterized by lofty naves, large expanses of
glass, pointed arches, and flying buttresses. They were decorated with
complex sculptures, stained glass, and rose windows.
• Most of the sculpture was stone portrait sculpture.
• Many modern cathedrals resemble the Gothic style and stained glass remains
on of the most common features.
 GOTHIC ART
The Roettgen Pieta

An example of late Gothic sculpture in

Germany. It is also known as "Andachtsbild" which
means "contemplation image" as it is meant to cause
an emotional reaction.
The word "pieta" is traced to the Latin
root for "pity" and ""piety" and is used to describe the
scene of Mary mourning her dead son. This is a
painted wood carving which uses realism for greater
impact since it is graphic and painful.
 ART IN 13th and 14th CENTURY IN ITALY
• Art thrived through mendicant religious orders including the
Dominicans and Franciscans.
• Franciscan churches were similar to the Gothic style with their
vertical nature, but had more of a sense of simplicity (ie. wooden
ceilings) since they practiced poverty .
• Churches in the cities were decorated with narrative sculpture
• Painting styles included fresco for walls and tempera on panel.
Artists used light to create dimensionality (this technique was very
influential and common subjects of painting were religious or
governmental
Madonna Enthroned -
Giotto
This is an altarpiece in the Church of
All Saints in Florence painted in Tempera
on Panel. He makes Mary, portrayed as a
Queen, the focal point with the other figures
looking at her and Jesus. His use of shading
from light to dark makes them three-
dimensional. He defines spatial context by
putting them in a semi-enclosed throne and
making the other figures appear to overlap
and crowd.
 ARTISTIC INNOVATIONS IN 15h CENTURY
NORTHERN EUROPE
• Technology was advancing and trade was growing.
• Art took on a naturalistic style and the bureaucrats and merchants
emerged as artistic patrons.
• "International Gothic" style was a more refined, elegant form that
emerged in the courts.
• Oil painting on panel was a major form of expression.
• Gutenberg's printing press opened up new possibilities of mass
distribution of books.
"ARNOLFINI PORTRAIT"

- Jan van Eyck

• Eyck was a court painter who worked
for the duke of Burgundy (p.297).
This painting is oil on panel, and it is
speculated that the man on the left is
Eyck himself. The inscription above
the mirror in the background reads
"Jan van Eyck was here, 1434"
"ARNOLFINI PORTRAIT"

- Jan van Eyck

• The couple has a very solemn
appearance and the painting
commemorates some type of union or
marriage, which at that time would
have been a legal/financial contract.
The woman lifting her dress could
indicate her desire for children and
the bed behind them is suggestive of
consummating the marriage.
 THE RENAISSANCE IN 15th CENTURY ITALY
• There was a "cultural flowering" in Florence under the Republic-style
government. Brunelleschi's discovery of linear perspective was
revolutionary in the appearance of three-dimensionality in both
architecture and eventually painting. Architecture emphasized
symmetry, regularity, and proportionality.
• In painting, artist began to explore beyond religious themes into history,
contemporary events, and ancient myths. The innovations in Florence
spread to other parts of Europe.
 Double Portrait of Battista Sforza and Federico da Montefeltro
- Piero della Francesca

This is oil and tempera on panel and the bright

colors and surface textures are in the style of
Flemish art and create the illusion of space in
the landscape behind the two people.
The wife is on the left side because she had
recently died and the left is the place off honor.
The portraits are very naturalistic which was
common in the Renaissance time .
 THE HIGH RENAISSANCE
• During this time, the status of artists rose to celebrities and
they were very highly revered.

• The Papacy usurped political and military power and Pope

Julius II invested in architecture, sculpture, and painting
projects. Painting and sculpture were religiously focused
and examined the human form.
Vitruvian Man -
Leonardo da Vinci
• Da Vinci was a true Renaissance man
in that he was a scientist, painter,
sculptor, musician, architect, and
engineer. He investigated the natural
world through a technical lens and
craved knowledge beyond just
perspective. In his notebooks, he
documented his studies and sketched
his inventions.
Vitruvian Man -
Leonardo da Vinci
• visualizes the concept introduced by
the Ancient Roman architect,
Vitruvius, that the perfect forms of the
circle and square are sourced from the
human body. It reveals da Vinci as a
humanist because of his examination
of man's place in the world.
 THE LATE RENAISSANCE AND MANNERISM
• Amongst the rise of the Protestant Reformation, a new style,
Mannerist, emerged which was complex and sophisticated and
involved grace, variety, and virtuoso display and explored different
definitions of beauty.
 THE LATE RENAISSANCE AND MANNERISM
• Because of Michelangelo's influence, artists freely invented their
own themes, spaces, and color schemes. During the Inquisition, the
Catholic Church abused art to promote their goals like propaganda.
In Venice, painting expanded on naturalism in to a more dramatic,
"visionary" style to depict spiritual images
The Rape of the Sabine Woman - Giovanni
Bologna

• This erotic sculpture which is larger than life-size exemplifies

the style of Mannerism. It is meant to show off skill because it
is three differing figures, united in a single action. The subject
is inspired by legends from Ancient Rome in which the city's
founders attacked the Sabine tribe.
• The upward movement, the massive scale, and the marble in
which it is carved are meant to display Bologna's virtuosity.
Characteristic of Mannerist style, it contracts beautiful, elegant
form with brute, violent, harsh content.
 RENAISSANCE AND REFORMATION
THROUGHOUT 16th CENTURY EUROPE
• Catholicism largely influenced art and culture in Spain, Italy, and
France.
• The Protestant Reformation, ignited by Martin Luther, caused
division.
• Most paintings were religiously-based, especially altarpieces as well
as engravings.
• Portraiture was popular in England.
• Artists in the Netherlands employed a medley of techniques and
styles.
"Stucco Figures" -
Francesco Primaticcio
• It was made for the room of King
Francis's mistress, and the stucco
nudes are holding the frames of
paintings. The position of the
women is reminiscent of the
nudes on the ceiling of the Sistine
Chapel. the paintings inside are
devoted to Alexander the Great.
• This was done in the Mannerist
style because King Francis loved
Italian art and wanted the interior
of his home to be lavish and
flattering
 BAROQUE
• The Baroque style was complex, exuberant, and used exaggerated
motion; originating from a term referring to an irregular pearl
• The Catholic church used Baroque art for persuasion during the
Counter-Reformation.
• Painting, architecture, and sculpture blossomed in Italy.
• In Spain, a lot of art was either religious or political.
"The Club-Footed
Boy" - Jusepe de Ribera

• Ribera was a "disciple" of Carvaggio in

Naples who used naturalism and often
represented Catholicism in his work. In
this painting, the happy child is smiling
endearingly despite being a peasant
beggar. His paper reads, "Give me alms
for the love of God," calling the rich to
good-deeds to reach salvation. His
"deformity" was cause for intense pity in
the seventeenth century.
 THE BAROQUE IN THE NETHERLANDS
• There was division in the Netherlands, and most art was
dependent on commissions from churches.
• Primary themes were religious images and portraiture.
• Still life and landscape painting emerged as very popular
along with Genre painting which provided glimpses into
natural life.
 "Self-Portrait" –
Judith Leyster

• Leyster was a follower of Frans

Hals.
• This painting displays Leyster's
skills in portraiture as well as genre
painting. The fact that she shows
herself painting and advertises her
skill, showing off all the brushes
she holds, is indicative of her new
professional status which was
unique as a woman
 THE BAROQUE IN FRANCE AND ENGLAND
• Classicism, derived from classical Greek and Roman forms, was the
dominant style in England and France.
• Louis XIV was a major patron of art.
• Paintings were no longer all religiously themed and instead, featured
historical scenes, landscapes, and royal portraits.
• French Architectural style was grand, showy, and powerful.
• In England, Palladio's influence was seen in architecture.
 THE BAROQUE IN FRANCE AND ENGLAND
"Galerie des Glaces" (Hall Of Mirrors), Palace of
Versailles
The work of Jules Hardouin-Mansart, Louis Le Vau, and Charles Le Brun,
this is 240 feet long and is the center of the Palace. It is uniquely adorned
with full length mirrors and colored marble, which was quarried in
France, thus promoting nationalism. The mirrors make the room appear
larger and reflect the outdoor gardens. Possibly, it could also be an ode to
king Louis XIV being the "Sun King"
THE BAROQUE IN FRANCE AND ENGLAND
"Galerie des Glaces" (Hall Of Mirrors), Palace of
Versailles
 ROCOCO ART
• This style arose in France with Louis XV, and was more playful and
poetic, featuring themes such as love and loss.
• Poussinistes and Rubenistes were divisions of Painters at the French
Academy.
• Rococo interiors were ornamental and embellished.
• In Central Western Europe, artists expanded the style among different
forms and audiences.
• It was often illusionistic with intriguing elements of light and color.
 ROCOCO ART
"The Swing" - Jean-Honore Fragonard

This oil on canvas painting from 1767 is a fantasy of colors. It embodies

the spirit of the Rococo with its flirty whimsy. It suggests erotic fantasy
between Fragonard and his patron, "with the clergy as their unwitting
dupe." There are tones of sexuality and fertility enhanced by the outdoor,
summer setting and paited statues, while still having a tone of innocence.
The overgrown plants and pastel haze create a sort of privacy
 ROCOCO ART

"The Swing" - Jean-

Honore Fragonard
 ART IN THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT
• From 1750-1789, the Neoclassical style predominated with the rise of
the Enlightenment. This is associated with the transition into the
Modern Era. Enlightenment logic, the shift in values/morality, and focus
on science influenced art which re-examined classical themes.
• Rome was the epicenter, and painters used planarity and linearity.
• Romantic art was more characterized by bold and dramatic paintings
illustrating nationalism and often landscapes.
 ART IN THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT

• In Britain, we see the emergence of contemporary history painting.

• Architecture in Britain revived the Gothic style.
• In France, the emphasis on reason and morality was evident in
genre painting and sculpture.
"The Death of
General Wolfe" -
Benjamin West
West, a founding member of
the Royal Academy, is a Philadelphia
native who spent most of his career in
London. This painting is a realistic
depiction of the French and Indian
War honoring a British Hero. It was so
successful because it keeps in line
with classical rules, while being
modern and accurate, thus eliciting
and emotional response.
 ART IN THE AGE OF ROMANTICISM

• Romantic art was more emotional and reached its prime between 1789
and 1848.
• Neoclassical Romantic paintings featured frozen images which convey
penetrating emotions.
• Many painters worked for the Church and State who commissioned art.
• A common subject was nature and landscape, as well as politically
charged pieces.
• Architects revisited Gothic and classical styles, as observed in
• The Houses of Parliament and The University of Virginia.
 "Under the Birches"
• This painting captures the
essence of nature without - Rousseau
artificial stylization. It is a
specific place, as each tree and
cloud is unique and individual.
The setting is twilight during
autumn, so the colors evoke a
somber and gloomy tone.
• His stippled brushwork makes
"the landscape pulse with
energy." there is a sense of
growth and movement of nature.
 ART IN THE AGE OF POSITIVISM
• Positivism emerged as a new, pragmatic mentality of materialism and
science. Because of this, art was focused on realism, which eventually
evolved into Impressionism: capturing their first impression, representational
of feelings.
• In France, realist paintings captured the darkness of war while no longer
aggrandizing upper-class life.
• Impressionist paintings recorded moments, and displayed the transformations
occurring in French society, with their slightly unfinished look.
 ART IN THE AGE OF POSITIVISM
• In Britain, the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood denounced the Royal
Academy and advocated more simple, straightforward, spiritual art.
• Art in America was largely influenced by psychological
developments
• and understanding. Photography also arose as an effective means
• of recording history for mass distribution.
"A Harvest of Death" - Timothy O'Sullivan
• This eerie photograph was taken in
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in July
1863 after the infamous battle
during the Civil War. It is a
forerunner of photojournalism,
displaying the power of
documentary reality.
• It captures a real event with real
people who are really dead. The
lifelessness is haunting and there is
contrast between the dark bodies
and the lightness of the empty,
overcast sky.
 PROGRESS AND ITS DISCONTENTS
• Post-Impressionists were avant-garde artists who developed personal
aesthetics and rejected the empiricism of Realism and Impressionism.
Symbolist art focused on dreams, abstractions, sensations, and moods.
• Art Nouveau sought to eliminate distinction between fine and decorative arts
and can be observed primarily through design and architecture.
• Photography fought to be included as art and photographers
• experimented with different techniques to affect the appearance of final
prints such as manipulating exposure and creating texture.
 "The Thinker"
- Auguste Rodin

This sculpture represents the Symbolist desire to

display the internal. It appropriates the work of
Michaelangelo and is molded out of plaster.
Intentionally, it is rough and uneven to make the
viewer feel like part of the creation.
The figure's nudity reinforces the primal quality
and is metaphorical of him being stripped down
to reveal his humanity and expose his hears and
passions.
 TOWARDS ABSTRACTION: THE MODERNIST
REVOLUTION
• Scientific advancements bled into the art world and influenced
philosophy and art-creation.
• Fauvism focused on free, expressive use of color., and while
abstract, would often include somewhat traditional themes through
radical styles. Cubism was greatly nontraditional, focusing on
representational, abstract, fractured, geometric forms and collages.
 TOWARDS ABSTRACTION: THE MODERNIST
REVOLUTION
• In Germany, Expressionism displayed tension, anguish, and
passion. In Austria, it was disturbing and psychologically
charged.
• Futurism emerged with art-with-a-purpose that attempted to
make social or political statements.
"Homage to Bleroit"
- Robert Delaunay
This tempera on canvas is an
homage to a French aviator. It is
modern in its incorporation of
items such as airplane parts and the
Eiffel tower. The ambiguity of
Cubist space and contrasting
placement of bold colors creates
movement as well as elements of
light and space. It is abstract and is
representative of French Cubism
 ART BETWEEN THE WARS
• The Dada art movement followed WWI, in response to the conflict
it created. Dada artists believed that reason had lead to war so their
art was absurd and nonsensical and challenged the status-quo.
• Surrealism expressed the true functioning of thought and the
unconscious. Surrealist art was imaginative fantasy based on
stream of consciousness and sometimes combined random objects
to reveal something deeper.
 ART BETWEEN THE WARS
• Architecture adopted a utilitarian style. In America, art
reflected the expansion of Industry and technology.
• As WWII approached, a lot of art took a very political
approach, and socialist themes were fairly common. Many
artists also sought to depict the depravity of poverty.
"The Arsenal" - Diego
Rivera
This mural was painted in
response to the Mexican
Revolution and is reflective of the
search for national identity (p.595).
It seems to be calling for solidarity.
In this public art-display, he paints
fellow artists distributing arms to
common people. The message is
that art plays an important role in
supporting both the revolution and
the working classes.
"The Arsenal" - Diego
Rivera

The Soviet banner represents

the unions. This piece abandons
many modernist values and Rivera
aims to represent the native people
with dignity and honor culture and
traditions throughout his work.
 POSTWAR TO POSTMODERN
• Abstract Expressionism arose, seeking universal truths in art and
expressing an Existentialist view, examining the human condition.
The art was often on a very large scale, and was spontaneous and
very abstract, conveying complex emotions.
• Minimalist and Conceptual arts also emerged, reflecting similar
ideologies. Pop Art came onto the scene as a revelation of culture.
 POSTWAR TO POSTMODERN
• Formalist Abstraction focused more on the basic elements and
form of art and the composition rather than emotional content.
• Artists also created social art during this time, representative of the
identities of minority groups such as African-Americans and
women.
 "Spiral Jetty" - Robert
Smithson

• This is an earthwork comprised of rock,

salt, crystals, and mud in Utah's Great
Salt Lake. It is reflective of the Post-
Minimalist aesthetic. It uses time as an
element because it eventually will
erode. The spiral shape wraps around
itself and accumulates microorganisms
which make the water red
 The POSTMODERN ERA
• By the 1980s, artists had much more of a creative license
and focused their efforts on meaning rather than definable
style. Architecture reflected advances in technology and
was not confined to one, specific style. Pluralism
encompassed the idea that artists and art-forms are diverse
and culturally unique. Neo-expressionism came as a
reaction against minimalism and conceptualism.
 The POSTMODERN ERA

They portrayed objects like the human body in a rough and

emotional way. Many artists worked on deconstructing
images from society and changing the context to expose their
systems. Installation art was popular in exploration of
medium and for conveying a social or political message.
"Light Cycle": Explosion Project
For Central Park
- Cai Guo-Qiang

This is a snapshot of a four-minute work,

using explosions as the medium. It is very
spiritual and aims to reach beings beyond earth.
Cai is a Chinese native, so the use of fireworks is
a highlight of his cultural identity as they are a
Chinese invention. He even draws with them,
evoking Chinese calligraphy. The explosions are,
to an extent, uncontrollable and unpredictable
which speaks to a feeling of to freedom. It is
arranged, yet spontaneous; and in an instant,
presents creation as well as destruction