A Brief History of Art in Western Culture

From cave paintings to high definition films, art in the Western World has evolved and
adapted to fit that culture’s beliefs and ideals. Despite its ever-changing techniques and
themes, the presence of art in every day life has always been a constant. Take a
moment to learn a little more about your favorite time period in art history.

Prehistoric (before c. 3000 B.C.E.)

The Neolithic revolution is when our ancestors learned to farm and domesticate
animals, allowing them to evolve from a nomadic lifestyle to permanent settlements.
This let them build cities, civilizations and eventually art.

The oldest cave paintings known are about 40,800 years old. Anthropologists believe
that Neanderthals made some of the earliest images, usually depicting themselves as
stick figures and animals.

Ancient (c. 3000 B.C.E. to c. 400 C.E.)

  

Ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, the Etruscans, and the Romans were some of the first to create the
earliest naturalistic images of human beings. Realistic sculptures and busts became one of the most
praised forms of artwork of the time. Most popularly, out of this period came the Ancient Greek
sculpture of Zeus or Poseidon.

Middle Ages (c. 400 C.E. to c. 1400 C.E.)

Art in the Middle Ages was restricted to the teachings of the Church, with a heavy focus on
literature. Paintings during this time were minimal, with portrait paintings being incredibly rare.
Religious or Christian art typically consisted of illuminated manuscripts, mosaics and fresco
paintings and all featured mostly dull and muted colors.

this grading period is intended to learn about paintings in these

eras.
What is painting?

PAINTING

What's the meaning of painting?

Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called the
“matrix” or “support”). The medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other
implements, such as knives, sponges, and airbrushes, can be used. In art, the term painting describes
both the act and the result of the action.

--Is the expression of ideas and emotions, with the creation of certain aesthetic qualities, in a two-
dimensional visual language.

-- The elements of this language  ( elements of arts ) —its shapes, lines, colours, tones, and textures—

are used in various ways ( principles of design )  to produce sensations of volume, space, movement,
and light on a flat surface.

These elements are combined into expressive patterns in order  

1. to represent real or supernatural phenomena, 

2. to interpret a narrative theme, or 

3. to create wholly abstract visual relationships.  

Mediums of Arts.........An artist’s decision to use a particular medium, such as tempera, fresco, oil,
acrylic, watercolour or other water-based paints, ink, gouache, encaustic, or casein                                       
Forms........The choice of a particular form, such as mural, easel, panel, miniature, manuscript
illumination, scroll, screen or fan, panorama, or any of a variety of modern forms                                         

"""""The choices of the medium and the form, as well as the artist’s own technique combine, realizing
into a unique visual image."""""

                                                                           

What is the history of paint?

Paint was one of the earliest inventions of humanity. Some cave paintings drawn with red or yellow
ochre, hematite, manganese oxide, and charcoal may have been made by early Homo sapiens as long as
40,000 years ago. Paint may be even older.

How and When did painting begin? 

 Some 20,000 years ago, early humans ground up earth, charcoal, and minerals, and used the colored
powders to create images on cave walls. Sometimes the powders were mixed with saliva or animal fat to
form a fluid, which was blown through reeds, or applied with fingers.

What was the importance of history painting?

It is important because it gives you exposure to other humanities subjects, relating them to draw
conclusions and critical evaluation of different artworks. The learning process also helps to learn about
crucial times in history and know exactly how the experience of that timeline was like.

References:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/

2. https://westburyarts.org/brief-history-art-western-culture/

3. https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/h/history-painting

4. https://www.iesa.edu/paris/news-events/why-study-art-history

5. https://www.britannica.com/art/Western-arts

6. https://www.researchgate.net/post/
How_does_culture_influence_the_artistic_work_Which_examples_can_be_given_about_the_relationsh
ip_between_culture_and_art