Renaissance Art

During the Renaissance Period, artist valued the “individual” as a subject of arts. The influence of humanism shifted the focus of some artworks
during the Renaissance Period to empower the “individual.” Most artwork emphasized naturalism, which was also an influence of humanism
since there was a great emphasis on the proportionality of the human body. Most artist also added perspective of depth wherein spaces were
explored in different artworks. This technique provided a three-dimensional perspective of most Renaissance painting. Renaissance artist also
gave importance to non-religious themes or subject. This was also brought by the privatizations of the art during the Renaissance Period,
however most artworks remained religious in its focus and themes.

During the Renaissance Period, there was also a revival of Roman theatricals plays. These plays were performed during special occasions at the
courts of Italian princes. The plays were done in such a way that showcased grand and lavish entertainment for the audience. Aside from the
song and dance numbers, they interested in elaborate have greatly influenced their tradition of popular theater.

Mannerism

Mannerism was a period in art history, which was a product of the Renaissance Period. During the Renaissance, artist would observe
nature and try their best to emulate it based on their observations. As the Renaissance ended, artist started directly copying subjects from
existing works of art. Most artworks during this period displayed distorted figures, two-dimensional spaces, discordant hues and colors, and
lack of defined focal point.

Baroque and the Rococo

The term “baroque” is derived from the Portuguese term barocco which is translated as “irregularly shaped pearl.” Which according to some
historians was a response to Protestantism. This period roughly spanned from 1600 to 1750. Although it was a period following the
Renaissance, it can be said that a lot of artists have developed styles and techniques different from their Renaissance predecessors. Most artists
used colorful palettes and ornamentation in their works. This was a time when Italy in particular, strengthened not only their religion but also
other aspects like politics and art. Expansion was the central theme of this period, which became very much evident in the artworks produced
during this time. Motion and space were taken into consideration by artists like the use of dramatic lighting and the concept of time.

Aside from art, MUSIC also flourished during the Baroque Period. This is because people believed that music could serve as powerful tool to
communicate messages that can evoke certain feelings among its listeners. Baroque music was able to clearly distinguish loud from soft and
solo from ensemble. Since the birthplace of this period was in Rome, it did not come as a surprise that most composers come from Italy. This
include Vivaldi, Corelli, and Monteverdi. Eventually, the influence of Baroque spread outside Italy and reached other parts of Europe. Other
well-known Baroque composers include Germany’s Bach and Handel. Since Baroque composers, through their works, tried to evoke certain
emotion from their audience, they began to make more complex musical compositions and performances. However, it can be noted that
initially, this kind of music was limited only to power institutions like the church and individuals like the patrons. Eventually, such performances
would be made accessible to the middle class and the masses.

Neoclassicism

There seems to be a debate among historians as to the beginnings of modern art. There are accounts that would attribute for the emergence of
this kind of art during the French Revolution in 1789. However, other historians claim that it was the year 1863 when there was an emergence
of modern painting exhibitions.

Neoclassicism was a movement in Europe that transpired during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. It was the dominant art
movement that time which basically aimed to revive and rekindle the influences of Greek and Roman into art and architecture. The ancient
Greeks and Europeans had placed emphasis on human reason and keeping society in order. These very principle were also the dominant
principles during the Enlightenment Period. Some historians would also say that this movement was a reaction to the artworks produced during
the Baroque say that movement was a reaction to the artworks produced during the Baroque Period. There was a call to veer away from such
extravagance in terms of style and form of the Baroque Period.

Romanticism
Romanticism, as an art movement, used the central themes of Neoclassicist artworks as a springboard. Romanticists have highlighted heroic
elements into their work. During the Age of Revolutions, there has been a tremendous focus on patriotic and nationalistic movements. One of
the major revolutions in history would be the French Revolution, such revolutionary movements became the focal point of most Romantic
works.

The major and central themes of Romanticism movement include the emphasis on the goodness of mankind. Most works also promoted
justice, equality, and social order. Artists also emphasized emotions and feelings of man, which was a deviation from the humanist principle of
rationalism.

Realism

Realism as style of work focuses on the accuracy of details that depicts and somehow mirrors reality. There is little room for imagination in this
movement since emphasis is placed in observable traits that can concretize through artworks realism was heavily influenced by Hellenistic
Greek culture since most artworks during period placed emphasis on the human body.

Realism as modern movement in art veered away from traditional forms of art. In a way, it revolutionized themes and techniques in paintings.
In addition, this movement also expanded and widened existing notions of what can be considered as art. Since artists worked within the
context of revolutions and social changes, artistic works began to depict real-life events. Idealistic concepts and images were replaced by real
manifestations of society. There is a move to combine both art and life in artistic works since the modern world were suitable for subjects of
art. This movement also reexamined existing belief systems and traditions.

Impressionism

The impression movement started in France, which led to a break from the tradition in European painting. Impressionism is a style of painting
that emerged in the mid-to late 1800s. impressionist artist incorporated scientific principles to achieve a more distinct representation of color.
The distinctive characteristic of this style is that it allows the artist to emphasize is communicated by the artist through his work and can be
seen through the brushstrokes, distinction of colors, and the lights and shadows used by the artist.

Post-Impressionism

It is an art movement that emerged in France, which is a result of both the influence and rejection of impressionist but later on saw the
inherent limitations and flaws of impressionism. This eventually led to the development of individual style that gave emphasis to defining from
with the use of broken colors and short brush stroke. Some of the famous post-impressionism artists include Paul Cezanne, Georges Seurat,
Paul Gaugin, and Vincent van Gogh, among others. Most of the works of the said painters became the framework of the contemporary
techniques and trends during the twentieth century.

Neo-Impressionism

As an art movement, neo-impressionism is considered as a response to empirical realism of impressionism. Most painters who subscribe
to such movements rely on a systematic and scientific techniques that have a predetermined visual effects not only on the art work itself but
also how the audience perceive the art. The leading figure in neo-impressionism was Georges Seurat who recorded optical sensation on a more
scientific manner. His color theories paved the way for the technique called pointillism. This art technique basically utilizes discrete dots and
dashes of pure color. These elements are believed to blend with viewer’s perspective. Aside from Seurat, other neo-impressionist artists include
Henri-Edmond Cross, Maximilien Luce, and Camille Pissarro, among others.
Art Nouveau

Between 1890 and 1910, countries from Europe and the United States witnessed the emergence and flourishing of a new art style. This
ornamental style of art was a break from the conservative historicism, which was the prevailing and dominant theme of most Western
artworks. This ornamental style uses long and organic lines that are concretely manifested in architecture, jewelry and glass design, among
others. In most works, the defining characteristic of Art Nouveau is the asymmetrical line that usually is in the form of insect wings or flower
stalks. The line is done in such a graceful and elegant manner that somehow evokes a certain power to it.

Fauvism

This is a style of painting that emerged in France around the turn of the twentieth century. What makes fauvists revolutionary is that they used
pure and vibrant colors by applying straight from the paint tubes directly to the canvas. This is done to produce a sense of explosion of colors in
the canvas. The difference lies with how the fauves have this strong and expressive reaction to how they portray their subjects. Most fauvist
works reject the conservative and traditional renderings of three-dimensional space. What artists did was they introduced and promoted a
picture space that is defined by the movement of color.

Cubism

Between 1907 and 1914, French artists Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque introduced a new visual arts style called cubism. This style would
later on have a huge influence on artists during the twentieth century. Cubists highlighted the two-dimensional surface of the picture plane.
Focusing on flat surface was a rejection of the dominant techniques like the use of perspective, foreshortening, and modeling. In addition, one
of the things that cubism rejected was the existing and prevailing notion that art should imitate nature. Cubists emphasized that they are not in
any way obliged to copy texture., form, color, and space. They presented a new depiction of reality that may appear fragmented objects for
viewers.

Futurism

It is an early twentieth century art movement that started in Italy, which highlighted the speed, energy, dynamism, and power of machines. In
addition, common themes for works in this movement are restlessness and the past-space of modern life. Later on, the movement’s influence
branched out not only in Europe but also in Russia. The greatest impact of futurism is evident in poetry and visual arts.

Italian poet and editor Filippon Tommaso Marinette coined the term “futurism” to reflect his purpose of disregarding the traditional methods of
the art in the past. He believes that art should embrace and embody change. Innovation, creativity, and originality.