Art Appreciation

Art History and Art Movements (Part 1)

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Module on
8 Art History and Art
Movements (Part 1)

This module will introduce you to the history of art and the various art movements . This module will also
help you classify the important characteristics of various art movements such as historical background, factors,
influential person, socio-political issues, prevalent artists, art forms and media.

At the end of this module, you should be able to:

1. identify the underlying history, philosophy of the era or movements; and
2. classify the various art movements by citing their important characteristics such as historical background, factors,
influential person, socio-political issues and prevalent artists, art forms and media.

DIFFERENT ART MOVEMENTS

1. Cave Art. Art in cave usually reveals various paintings and engravings from the Ice Ages, sometime between
40,000 and 14,000 years ago in caves and shelters. Most cave art comprise of red or black dye artworks. Relics
were made from iron oxides (hematite), while blacks were made from manganese and charcoal dioxide.
Example:
The oldest known cave painting in the world is not a
magnificent display of dancing horses, thundering bison, or
leaping warriors. El Castillo, in the Cantabria region of
northern Spain, holds thousands of years’ worth of
spectacular prehistoric art. But the beginning of it all, at the
end of a long passage so narrow that one must crawl through
parts of it, is a simple disc-shaped blotch of red paint.
Archaeologists believe the painting to be at least 40,800
years old. It was made not long after humans began migrating
out of Africa and into Europe, where they met their
predecessors, the Neanderthals.

2. Egyptian Art. Throughout Egyptian culture, the principle of cohesion called ma'at, which was conc eived at the
dawn of life and embraced the cosmos, was created. This represents the beautiful universe of gods; all Egyptian

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sculpture is focused on a perfect equilibrium. Just like these
gods gave every good gift to mankind, so the work of arts had been invented and developed for use. Egyptian
sculpture has also been practical first and foremost. And if a sculpture was perfectly built, it acted as a sanctuary
for a spirit or a deity.
Example:
King Ramesses fought numerous wars during his reign, and
emerged victorious from most of them, expanding the riches of
the vast Egyptian empire during his 66-year rule from 1279 BC
to 1213 BC. He is often regarded as the most celebrated and
most powerful pharaoh in ancient Egypt. His battle against the
Nubians, a 200-year-old wealthy civilization, stands well
documented in the form of the above papyrus painting. The
battle is depicted on the south wall of the Beit el-wali temple, a
Nubian stronghold. On one of the walls of the temple it says
that in one of the battles with the Nubians he had to fight the
whole battle alone without any help from his soldiers.

3. Greek Art. Much of this human civilization has integrated into our collective consciousness. The prompt visions
of epic wars and scholarly philosophers, gleaming White buildings and limbless nudes (we now understand
sculptures, even those that accessorize statues such as the Parthenon). Thanks to its remarkable archaeological
places, the well-known literary sources and the impacts of the Hollywood (the Clash of the Titans, for example).
Example:
Fallen Warrior from Temple of Aphaia (c 480-470BC). There is
a tragic pathos to this mighty sculpture of a dying hero from a
temple on the Greek island of Aegina. Tragedy is a Greek
concept. The tragedies of Sophocles, Euripides and Aeschylus
are still performed. This statue shows a strong man fallen,
heroic to his last breath.

4. Roman Art. Since the rediscovery and appreciation of ancient Greek art from the 17th century onwards, roman
art has suffered a little from a reputation crisis. As art criticism also discovered that many of the greatest Roman
artworks were simply duplicates, or at least influenced by Greek originals which were earlier and mostly
destroyed. The popularity of Roman art, which succeeded in the middle ages and the Renaissance for all
Romanesque items, started to decline. The very meaning of what it truly is , is another issue with Roman art.
Unlike Greek art, the Roman empire’s vast geographical location
led to very various approaches to art.
Example:
This monumental column stands as a landmark in the city and is
one of the best-preserved monuments of ancient Rome. A
stunning structure just by itself, there are in addition a total of
2,662 figures carved into its surface depicting 155 different
scenes, allowing it to tell a story of its own. Needless to say,
Trajan’s Column and its spiral narrative give a detailed insight
into the coordination, administration, and operations of the

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Roman army. Given its historical significance and prominence as a long -standing landmark, the Column of
Trajan has been attracting artists and historians for a very long time.

5. Medieval Period. It featured a range of things from glass mosaics, wall paintings, and metalwork. Byzantine art
was traditional, primarily religious, and much of it were associated with lower levels of realism. In fact, the
paintings were white, with little to no shadows to a hint of 3D, and the themes were generally serious and more
somber.
Example:
Built in 537 AD at the beginning of the medieval period under
the direction of Byzantine emperor Justinian I, the Hagia Sophia
epitomizes Byzantine architecture. Though originally built as a
Greek Orthodox Christian cathedral, it was repurposed as a
mosque after the Turkish conquest of Constantinople in 1453,
and today stands as a museum in Istanbul, Turkey. At the time
it was built, it was the world’s tallest building, known for its iconic,
massive dome.

6. Chinese Painting. Chinese painting is among the world’s oldest continuing forms of art. In Chinese today,
traditional painting is recognized as "guóhuà" means "ethnic" or "local painting" contrasted with Western
decorative arts, which in the twentieth century grew popular in China. For Chinese painting, the two primary
methods are:
a. Gongbi, which is "thorough," uses very specific brushstrokes which precisely identify details.
b. Ink and wash painting in Chinese, as one of the Chinese Scholar-of-Scientific class "Four Arts," was
also commonly classified as water colored painting or brush painting. It was an art performed in principle
by gentlemen, a differentiation that begins with the Song dynasty in literature but that may in turn benefit
greatly from the professions of leading exhibitors. This style is often called the "xieyi" style.
Example:
Beside is Zhang Zeduan, Spring Festival on the River (also
called Along the River During Qingming Festival), Northern
Song dynasty, Early 12th century. Despite its uncertain
attribution to Northern Song Dynasty academy painter Zhang
Zeduan and unknown date, this masterful painting has
nonetheless become one of the most famous and hotly-debated
works in Chinese history. The painting immerses the viewer in
an expansive survey of city life from nearly a thousand years
ago.

7. Japanese Print. Until its Edo era in 1603 to 1868, the arts of woodblock printing were launched into the China's
Han dynasty which lasted from 206 BCE to 220 CE. Initially, conventional handscrolls were used as inexpensive
books by woodblock printing. Yet, it was quickly converted and used as a method for mass processing of prints.
Example:
The print, part of the series Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, features a huge arching wave in the foreground which
threatens

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to consume the two boats below, while Mount Fuji sits
serenely in the distance, seemingly framed by the wave.
Centuries of peace during the Edo period and the
development of a sophisticated road system had fostered a
culture of leisure travel in Japan. This created a desire for
prints of famous and beautiful landscapes which were bought
as cheap souvenirs. At the same time, Western imports of
prints and drawings represented new ways of looking at the
world, which also encouraged an interest in drawing from life.

8. Renaissance Art. In the context of religious practices, many works of Renaissance art portrayed religious
images, including the theme of the Virgin Mary or Our Lady, and were seen by contemporary audiences. They
are still considered to be wonderful works of art but were used and seen primarily as objects of devotion. Many
works of the Renaissance were painted as altarpieces for inclusion in the Catholic rituals and donated by patrons
who sponsored the mass themselves.
Example:
The painting Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci is one of the mo st
famous and recognized paintings in history. Unarguably it is the
most discussed painting because of the enigmatic smile. There
have been many discussions about the smile of Mona Lisa,
whether she is smiling or not. The major feature of this painting
is that Da Vinci has painted her eyes in such a way that even
when you change the angle of the view, the eyes of Mona Lisa
seems to always follow you. The painting is done in oil on wood
and is presently under the ownership of the Government of
France. Mona Lisa is exhibited in Louvre, Paris and it belongs
to the public, which means that it cannot be bought or sold.

9. Mannerism. Mannerist artists were involved in but did not seek to imitate the perfectionism represented by artists
of the High Renaissance. Rather, they distorted the values of the Renaissance and contributed to research that
encourages self-expressionism and idealism. The Mannerists went on to construct extremely unnatural
compositions, rather than following the harmonious principles synonymo us with Raphael and Michelangelo,
which revealed their methods and hybrid capabilities to exploit compositions in order to build the illusion of
advanced beauty.
Example:
The picture is entitled Perseus with the head of Medusa by
Benvenuto Cellini. The statue has been greatly influential as
Antonio Canova and the 18th century Russian sculptor Feodosy
Fyodorovich Shchedrin made their own versions of Perseus.
The Surrealist Salvador Dalí cast a number of sculptures
referencing Cellini's statue, from small works created in series,
to large statues like the one displayed on the Avenida del Mar
in Marbella, Spain.

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10. Baroque. In Baroque style, contrast, motion, exuberant details,
profound light, scale, and excitement were used to build a feeling of admiration. The style originated in Rome in
the beginning of the 17th century, and spread quickly to France, Northern Italy, Spain and Portugal, then to
Austria, Southern Germany and Russia. It developed in the 1730s to a much more glamorous style known as
rocaille or rococo which, until the middle of 18th century, appeared in France and in Central Europe.

Example:
The greatest Baroque project was the completion of St. Peter's
Basilica, built over the early Christian "Old" St. Peter's. Although the
original 16th century design was a central plan, a long nave was added
to make the church larger, therefore making the plan rectangular. An
impressive facade was then added in front of the nave, which ruined
the effect of Michelangelo's dome (his dome is over the original 16th
century central plan, now the apse). The enormous size of St. Peter's
-- the largest church in the world -- was a way of emphasizing the
importance of the Roman Catholic faith in the face of the Protestant
reformers.

11. Rococo Art. In Europe in the 18th century, Rococo architecture, drawing, sculpture, and decorative arts became
popular. The extravagant and lively Rococo first emerged in inner design and decoration in reaction to the
firmness of the baroque period. The word saloon means in French simply a living or a living room, and the
Rococo salons refer to central rooms in the Rococo style. Furthermore, the concept of a 'salon' is an era of light
which has turned the lounge into a central space for aristocracy, where guests may entertain themselves and
engage in intellectual conversation.
Example:
Jean-Antoine Watteau is credited with the birth of Rococo painting.
Pilgrimage to the Isle of Cythera (1717), known also as The
Embarkation for Cythera, is perhaps Watteau’s most famous work. The
painting melds a lush, Renaissance-style landscape with an allegorical
scene in which a group of couples either return from or set out for—
scholars differ in their interpretations—Cythera, a small Greek island
near the mythical site of Aphrodite’s birth, which has long been
associated with the goddess of love. Each of the three couples in the
foreground represents a different phase of courtship, while the flying
cupids that take off into the sky signal the island’s amorous associations.

12. Neo-classical. Simplification with its focus on asymmetry, bright colors

and decoration. With the growing popularity of the Grand Tour, the
collection of antiquities as mementos seemed to be popular. This
collecting practice laid the groundwork for many brilliant art pieces and
extended the traditional Renaissance across Europe and America.
Example:
The Cathedral of Vilnius is the main Roman Catholic cathedral of
Lithuania. This building is a prime example of neoclassical art, as it
contains the key features that define that time period. The columns are

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carved in a characteristic way of the time, and show off the true feel of that era. There are sculptures on top of
the cathedral that show that the building is in fact a place of worship. The cross also represents the catholic
worship center. People come from all over the world to view this work of art. This building is truly a wonder of
the world.

13. Romanticism. Romance embraced individual identity and subjectivity in order to co mbat the over-emphasis of
logical thinking. Artists started to investigate various physiological and psychological situations and mood s.
Example:
Théodore Géricault's large painting of the Raft of the Medusa initially
caused considerable scandal and controversy. The painting depicts
a real-life tragic event: the shipwreck of 1816 in which hundreds of
soldiers lost their lives. That event stunned an entire nation because
150 people climbed onto the raft but only 15 managed to be rescued
and survived. The artist, who was still very young, portrayed
the tragedy with surprising realism for the time, by studying the
bodies of both the living and the deadIt took time for the work to be
fully appreciated, as often happens with great artists, but when it was
first put on display the predominant emotion was one of rejection.

14. Realism. Throughout the tumultuous period of revolt and social change, realistic painters replaced traditional
arts idealist representations and literature with actual events and put a similar weight throughout margins of
society with portraits and allegories of national history.
Example:
Inspired by a Greenwich Avenue restaurant, Edward Hopper crafts
out an art gem that induces the viewer into awareness. Like a puzzle,
the piece is incomplete and Edward coveys the gloomy aftermath of
the Second World War in the streets of Manhattan, where he grew
up.
Isolation, depravity, and a dark sadness is all you can see when your
eyes feed on its details. The art ultimately reflects the hard life,
struggle, and hustle of individuals (both men and women) during one
of the darkest days in American history and that is why the famous
piece has been recognized and appreciated throughout the country
and beyond.

15. Impressionism. In all modern painting, impressionism may be the

most important movement. In the 1860s, a group of young artists
decided to paint what they could see, think and feel quite clearly.
They did not want to portray the history, Mythology or the life of great
men, and in visual appearances they did not seek perfection.
Example:
This is Caillebotte's most famous and ambitious painting, exhibited
at the Third Impressionist Exhibition at the Rue Le Peletier, where it

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was not well accepted by the critic. L'Évenement wrote about this painting: "the drawing is of good quality, but
Caillebotte has forgotten to include the rain". Anyways, this is one of the best representations of 19th century
Paris ever painted.

16. Post Impressionism. Post-Impressionism includes a wide variety of

different artistic styles that share the popular purpose to respond to
the impressionist movement optically.
Example:
The Starry Night, one of the artist’s most known works, sits within an
oeuvre of work van Gogh was creating between 1885 and 1890. The
paintings created during these years reflect his personal vision and,
like other Post-Impressionists, rely on a vibrant color palette,
inventive perspectives, interesting compositions and purposeful
brushstrokes.

17. Neo Impressionism. A variety of artists have initiated and resurrected the original trend of Expressionism at the
beginning of the 20th century; yet Georg Baselitz, who led the rebirth that overtaken German art in the 1970s,
was inaugurating the most prominent return to Expressionism. During the 1980s, this revival was a part of the
global return to the sensuality of painting-and to the sparseness of minimalism and reproduction, which was not
stylistic or remote.
Example:
This painting depicts a sunny shore on the French Rivera, where six
nude women in classical poses gather around a picnic blanket before
which a clothed and bearded older man is sitting. The sea reaches to
the horizon, its expanse broken by the diagonals of a thin yellow cloud
and the folded sail of a boat. The title of the work is taken from Charles
Baudelaire's poem "L'invitation au voyage," "There, all is order and
beauty, / Luxury, peace, and pleasure." Matisse depicts his
interpretation of this idyllic landscape of aesthetic pleasures. While
spending the summer in St. Tropez in 1904, Matisse worked closely
with Signac and Cross, depicting the view of the shore from Signac's
house.

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