HUM 01 – UNIT 7
LESSON 1: PRE-HISTORIC, EGYPTIAN, AND
CLASSICAL ART
This lesson provides students important
information that highlighted pre-historic, Egyptian and
classical arts which deem necessary to develop
understanding and appreciation of these arts.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lesson, the students must
have:
1. Recalled facts and concepts about pre-historic,
Egyptian and classical arts;
2. Compared and contrasted styles,
characteristics and kinds of artworks made
during pre-historic, Egyptian and classical
periods;
3. Distinguished pre-historic, Egyptian and
classical art based on their characteristics.
Pre-Historic Art
Artworks created before the beginning of recorded
history have long since perished. Only a few of
these artworks survived, and these give significant
clues to the artistic spirits of our ancestors.
Deep inside certain caves in the mountainous
region that is now southern France and northern
Spain can be found the oldest paintings known to
exist. The wall paintings in a cave at Lascaux,
France have been dated to about 13,000 B.C,
during the Upper Paleolithic Period.
Based on the conclusions of archaeologists, the
paintings were done by mixing pigments of red
and yellow ocher, a natural earth substance, with
animal fat and painted onto the walls using reed
brush. In powdered form, these ochers were
probably mouth-blown to a higher surface through
hollow reeds.
Experts were also intrigued as to why these
paintings were made far inside of the caves and not
very accessible to people. Most of them believe
that these paintings had a magical function.
Even older than the Lascaux cave paintings is a
little female statuette. This statuette, which is
called Venus of Willendorf, is made of stone and
was formed about 23.000, and was found near a
town in present-day Austria.
This statuette is believed to be a fertility image,
meant to be carried around as an amulet. Less than
five inches tall, the statuette stressed the features
associated with childbearing.
Much pre-historic art seems to have been created
to make sense out of the universe and to exert
some control over the forces of nature.
Another pre-historic art is Stonehenge. Located on
a plain in the south of England, Stonehenge, a
structure of megaliths, stood for more than three
thousand years, around 2,000 B.C.
People are fascinated as to how and why this
structure was built. According to the experts,
these huge stones, weighing 50 tons or more, were
quarried many miles away and dragged to the site
by whatever primitive means may have been
available. As to why it was created, a study
conducted by the astronomer Gerald Hawkins in
1964 revealed that this structure apparently
functioned as a giant calendar, codifying the
changes of seasons and stars.
Egyptian Art
The Egyptians built their society around the Nile
River, which enabled them to develop agriculture,
and establish a permanent settlement. This
condition creates a social climate which allows art
to flourish.
Hieroglyphics is the first art forms of the
Egyptians. The principal message of their art is
continuity, characterized by stability, order, and
endurance. These can be seen in their artworks
such as the Sphinx, their pyramids and mastabas,
temples and colossal sculptures.
Painting is an expression or definition of concepts
of accepted social values rather than a mere
decoration. Stone was the major medium of art.
For painting and sculpture, ancient Egyptians
followed the “law of frontality” wherein the head
faces forward with the arms set close to the body
and the legs perfectly balanced. The faces were
drawn in profile with a frontal view of the eyes
which are often expressionless.
They used ocher and fresco-secco as their medium.
Their style is described as realistic and naturalistic
(Amarna Style).
Sculptures are in relief and free-standing, colossal
or life-size of kings, queens, armies and servants.
These sculptures are idealized representations,
immobile of features and always frontal in pose.
Strong geometric emphasis was given to the body,
with the shoulders and chest plane resembling an
inverted triangle during the old and middle
kingdom while greater naturalism was attained
during the new kingdom.
Egypt is known for its pyramids and mastabas as
well as temples and palaces built on posts known
as ‘flower and bud capitals.’
Classical Art
Classical art refers to the art of Greece and Rome
developed around 5th and 4th centuries B.C. The
center of classical art was Athens, one of Greece’s
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city states. During these periods, naturalism was
attained, figures were well proportioned and
shown in movement, although faces remained
immobile. Gods and athletes were favorite
subjects of sculpture.
Paintings were mostly done on vases. Subjects
were usually portraits, landscapes, geometric
designs, genre scenes and mythological characters
and scenes. It is characterized by simplicity,
formality, symmetry and restraint.
Classicism in architecture is characterized by the
used of columns Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, Tuscan
and Composite designed by the Greek and the
Romans.
Classicism in theater or drama is best represented
by the works of Greek dramatists Aeschylus,
Sophocles and Euripides.
Classical art is characterized by simplicity,
formality, symmetry and restraint.
LESSON 2: MEDIEVAL ART
MEDIEVAL ART
Medieval art—which includes a wide variety of art and
architecture—refers to a period also known as the
Middle Ages, which roughly spanned from the fall of
the Roman Empire in 476 A.D. to the early stages of
the Renaissance in the 14th century. Work produced
during this era emerged from the artistic heritage of the
Roman Empire and the iconographic style of the early
Christian church, fused with the “barbarian” culture of
Northern Europe.
Common forms of Medieval art--such as paintings,
mosaics, frescoes, and stained glass--were most often
commissioned to decorate churches, cathedrals,
chapels, and Christian tombs. As a result, these
artworks almost also focused on Christian themes and
imagery.
HISTORY AND CHARACTERISTICS OF
MEDIEVAL ART
The history of medieval art is expansive and covers a
wide range of centuries and genres. Medieval art was
prominent in European regions, the Middle East and
North Africa, and some of the most precious examples
of art from the Middle Ages can be found in churches,
cathedrals, and other religious doctrines. Also
prominent was the use of valuable materials such as
gold for objects in churches, personal jewelry,
backgrounds for mosaics, and applied as gold leaf in
manuscripts.
Though the Middle Ages neither begin nor end neatly
at any particular date, art historians generally classify
medieval art into the following periods: Early
Medieval Art, Romanesque Art, and Gothic Art.
 EARLY MEDIEVAL ART/EARLY
CHRISTIAN ART
Art from this period was created between the
fourth century and 1050 A.D. During this time,
the Catholic Church and wealthy oligarchs
commissioned projects for specific social and
religious rituals. Many of the oldest examples
of Christian art survive in the Roman
catacombs or burial crypts beneath the city.
Artists were commissioned for works featuring
Biblical tales and classical themes for
churches, while interiors were elaborately
decorated with Roman Mosaics ornate
paintings, and marble incrustations.
A large part of the art created during this time
was also related to Byzantine work of the
Eastern Mediterranean. It included a variety of
media including glass mosaic, wall painting,
metalwork, and carved relief in precious
materials. Byzantine art was conservative in
nature, primarily featuring religious subject
matter, and much of it was characterized by a
lack of realism. Paintings in particular were
flat with little to no shadows or hint of three-
dimensionality, and the subjects were typically
more serious and somber.
 ROMANESQUE ART
Romanesque art took shape in the eleventh
century, initially developing in France then
spreading to Spain, England, Flanders,
Germany, Italy, and other regions. As the first
style to spread across Europe, it symbolized
the growing wealth of European cities and the
power of church monasteries.
Romanesque buildings were characterized by
semi-circular arches, thick stone walls, and
durable construction. Sculptures were also
prevalent during this time, where stone was
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used to represent biblical subject matter and
church doctrines. Other significant media
during this period include stained glass and the
continued tradition of illuminated manuscripts.
 GOTHIC ART
Late medieval art includes Gothic art, which
originated in the 12th century with the
rebuilding of the Abbey Church in Saint-
Denis, France. Gothic Architecture offered
revolutionary structural advancements such as
ribbed vaults, flying buttresses, and decorative
pinnacles all contributing to taller, lighter
building designs.
Similarly, Gothic sculpture borrowed motifs
from the architecture of the period since it was
primarily used to decorate exteriors of
cathedrals and other religious buildings.
Figures depicted in Gothic sculpture became
more realistic and closely related to medieval
cathedrals. Paintings also became more
lifelike, and with the rise of cities, foundation
of universities, increase in trade, and creation
of a new class who could afford to commission
works, artists started to explore more secular
themes and non-religious subject matter.
 BYZANTINE ART
Artistic style that developed in the eastern
Mediterranean under the rule of the Byzantine
Empire and spread beyond its boundaries to
other parts of the Christian world. It moved
away from classical naturalistic figures to flat
frontal figures and is best seen in mosaics and
icons.
Art produced during the Middle Ages by the
Byzantine Empire, or Eastern Roman Empire,
spanning the fourth to the fifteenth century.
The style is defined by devotional, Christian
subjects depicted in angular forms with sharp
contours, flattened colour and gold decoration.
Byzantine art appeared in a wide range of art
and design forms including painting,
architecture, mosaic, metalwork and carved
ivory relief, although it is most widely
recognised for its lavish gold icons which still
exist in churches around the world today.
The Byzantine style rejected the realistic forms
of classical Roman art in favour of highly
stylised, flattened designs. At its peak, the era
was defined by elongated figures with angular
faces, positioned face-on against ornate, gold
backgrounds. Icons were particularly popular,
illustrating Christ, the Virgin Mary or other
important figures of worship, most commonly
painted onto wooden panels with the encaustic
technique, where coloured pigments were
mixed in with wax and burned into the wood.
Holy figures were seen front on, engaging
viewers in a direct stare, which many believed
could enable communication with the divine
spirit, lending the work a deeply devotional
quality. Historian Peter Pearson reflected on
the magical, metaphysical spirituality these
icons could hold, writing, “Iconography, good
iconography, strives to convey invisible reality
in a visible form.”
LESSON 3.1: MODERNISM IN THE 19TH
CENTURY
Modernism in the 19th Century
 Impressionism
 Impressionism is perhaps the most important
movement in the whole of modern painting.
At some point in the 1860s, a group of young
artists decided to paint, very simply, what
they saw, thought, and felt. They weren’t
interested in painting history, mythology, or
the lives of great men, and they didn’t seek
perfection in visual appearances. Instead, as
their name suggests, the Impressionists tried
to get down on canvas an “impression” of
how a landscape, thing, or person appeared to
them at a certain moment in time.
 This often meant using much lighter and
looser brushwork than painters had up until
that point, and painting out of doors, en plein
air. The Impressionists also rejected official
exhibitions and painting competitions set up
by the French government, instead organizing
their own group exhibitions, which the public
were initially very hostile. All of these moves
predicted the emergence of modern art, and
the whole associated philosophy of the avant-
garde.
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 Post-Impressionism masterpiece Sunday on the Island of La
 Post-Impressionism is a predominantly Grande Jatte is widely praised as the most
French art movement that developed roughly famous of the Pointillism paintings.
between 1886 and 1905, which was from the
last Impressionist exhibition up to the birth
of Fauvism. The movement emerged as a
reaction against Impressionism and its
concern for the naturalistic depiction of light
and color.
 Post-Impressionists both extended
Impressionism while rejecting its
limitations: the artists continued using vivid
colors, a thick application of paint and real-
life subject matter, but were more inclined to
emphasize geometric forms, distort forms
for an expressive effect and use unnatural
and seemingly random colors.

 Pointillism
 Pointillism can be described relatively
simply – it’s an art movement named after a
technique in which small dots of color are
applied to canvas in order to form an image.
Today, the term dotted art is also in
colloquial use, and it describes the application
of small dots of different color painted on
canvas.
 As a historical art movement, Pointillism has
a very particular implication, but nowadays
it’s usually described as a special technique
that has been used by a number of different
artists, all of them creating in various
contexts when it comes to art movements.
 The birth of Pointillism dates back to the
Belle Epoque in Paris and the time of the
Impressionist art. It is generally related to the
French painter Georges Seurat, whose
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LESSON 3.2: CONTEMPORARY ART
FORMS
COMTEMPORAY ART FORMS
Contemporary art forms encompass a wide
range of artistic expressions that reflect the
spirit, ideas, and aesthetics of the present
time. Unlike traditional art forms, which
often adhere to established styles and
techniques, contemporary art forms
embrace experimentation, innovation, and
a departure from conventional norms.
At its core, contemporary art forms are
characterized by their emphasis on the
exploration of new mediums, materials,
and conceptual frameworks. Artists
working in this realm seek to challenge
traditional notions of art, provoke thought,
and engage with the ever-changing social,
cultural, and political landscapes of our
modern world.
What distinguishes contemporary art
forms is their ability to adapt and respond
to the evolving nature of our society.
Artists draw inspiration from diverse
influences, including technology,
globalization, identity, environmental
issues, and social justice. They employ a
multitude of mediums, including painting,
sculpture, installation, performance, video,
digital art, and more, often blurring the
boundaries between them.
Contemporary art forms invite viewers to
question, interpret, and participate in the
artistic experience. They encourage
dialogue, spark emotions, and offer unique
perspectives on the human condition and
the world we inhabit. By pushing the
boundaries of traditional artistic practices
and embracing innovative approaches,
contemporary art forms redefine what is
possible in the realm of artistic expression.
Contemporary Art Meaning
Contemporary art is a term used to
describe artworks created by artists living
and working in the present time. It
encompasses a wide range of artistic
practices, mediums, and styles that reflect
the current social, cultural, and political
climate. Unlike traditional art forms that
were defined by specific historical periods,
contemporary art is fluid, ever evolving,
and reflects the diverse perspectives and
experiences of artists in the contemporary
world.
The meaning of contemporary art goes
beyond the mere creation of visually
appealing objects. It serves as a reflection
and commentary on the issues, ideas, and
narratives that shape our society. Artists
working in contemporary art explore
various themes such as identity,
globalization, environmental concerns,
social justice, and technology, among
others.
Contemporary art meaning also lies in its
ability to provoke thought, engage viewers
in critical dialogue, and evoke emotional
responses. It encourages viewers to
question, interpret, and engage with the
artwork in a personal and subjective
manner. The meaning of contemporary art
is not fixed or prescribed but rather
emerges from the interaction between the
artwork, the artist, and the audience.
Furthermore, contemporary art meaning
extends beyond the confines of galleries
and museums. It can be found in public
spaces, community projects, digital
platforms, and various other contexts.
Contemporary artists often engage with
the public, collaborating with
communities, and addressing social issues
through their art. This inclusivity and
accessibility broaden the impact and reach
of contemporary art, making it more
relevant and relatable to a diverse
audience.
Contemporary Artists Meaning
Contemporary artists are individuals who
create artworks within the present time,
responding to the current social, cultural,
and political context. They are the driving
force behind the ever-evolving landscape
of contemporary art, pushing boundaries,
challenging conventions, and offering new
perspectives on artistic expression. The
meaning of contemporary artists goes
beyond their role as creators of visual
artworks. They are catalysts for change,
influencers of culture, and critical thinkers
who engage with complex issues of our
time.
Contemporary artists are characterized by
their diverse backgrounds, perspectives,
and artistic practices. They come from
various cultural, social, and educational
backgrounds, reflecting the rich tapestry of
human experiences. Their artworks
encompass a wide range of mediums,
including painting, sculpture, installation,
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performance, digital art, video, and more.
They embrace experimentation,
innovation, and interdisciplinary
approaches to create artworks that resonate
with contemporary audiences.
PART I. New Media / New Art Forms
Fauvism and Expressionism
Fauvism took hold of the art scene from 1905 to
1910, give or take, and is characterized by intense
color and bold brushwork. In some cases, artists
from this period applied paint straight from the
bottle. They chose simple subjects and because of
this, the paintings looked almost abstract.
Fauvism artists were also deeply interested in
scientific color theory from the 19th century.
Specifically, with the use of complementary
colors, fauvists understood how to make colors
seem brighter and bolder by incorporating these
theories.
Expressionism is an umbrella term for any artwork
that distorts reality to match the inner feelings,
views, or ideas of the artist. In short, it is art that
expresses inner realities onto the outer world. As
for the subject matter, expressionist art tends to be
emotional and sometimes even mythical, begging
the assumption that expressionism is an extension
of romanticism.
Since expressionism is such a broad term, it’s easy
to start attributing it to art from any era. So, for the
most part, expressionism is generally applied to art
from the 20th century. It is said to have started
with the work of Vincent van Gogh and extends
into modern art as we know it today.
Dada was an art movement formed during the
First World War in Zurich in negative reaction to
the horrors and folly of the war. The art, poetry
and performance produced by dada artists is often
satirical and nonsensical in nature.
The founder of dada was a writer, Hugo Ball. In
1916 he started a satirical night-club in Zurich,
the Cabaret Voltaire, and a magazine which,
wrote Ball, ‘will bear the name ”Dada”. Dada,
Dada, Dada, Dada.’ This was the first of many
dada publications. Dada became an international
movement and eventually formed the basis of
surrealism in Paris after the war.
Surrealism
A twentieth-century literary, philosophical and
artistic movement that explored the workings of
the mind, championing the irrational, the poetic
and the revolutionary.
Surrealism aimed to revolutionize human
experience, rejecting a rational vision of life in
favour of one that asserted the value of the
unconscious and dreams. The movement’s poets
and artists found magic and strange beauty in the
unexpected and the uncanny, the disregarded and
the unconventional.
Many surrealist artists used automatic drawing or
writing to unlock ideas and images from their
unconscious minds, and others sought to depict
dream worlds or hidden psychological tensions.
Most influential artists include Salvador Dali,
Joan Miro, Max Ernst and Rene Magritte.

Cubism
Cubism was a revolutionary new approach to
representing reality invented in around 1907–08
by artists Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque.
They brought different views of subjects (usually
objects or figures) together in the same picture,
resulting in paintings that appear fragmented and
abstracted.
Cubism was one of the most influential styles of
the twentieth century. It is generally agreed to
have begun around 1907 with Picasso’s
celebrated painting Demoiselles D’Avignon
which included elements of cubist style. The
name ‘cubism’ seems to have derived from a
comment made by the critic Louis Vauxcelles
who, on seeing some of Georges Braque’s
paintings exhibited in Paris in 1908, described
them as reducing everything to ‘geometric
outlines, to cubes’.
Dada
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LESSON 3.3: CONTEMPORARY ART FORMS
PART II. NEW MEDIA/NEW ART FORMS
 Surrealism
 A twentieth-century literary, philosophical
and artistic movement that explored the
workings of the mind, championing the
irrational, the poetic and the revolutionary.
 Surrealism aimed to revolutionize human
experience, rejecting a rational vision of life
in favour of one that asserted the value of
the unconscious and dreams. The
movement’s poets and artists found magic
and strange beauty in the unexpected and the
uncanny, the disregarded and the
unconventional.
 Many surrealist artists used automatic
drawing or writing to unlock ideas and
images from their unconscious minds, and
others sought to depict dream worlds or
hidden psychological tensions.
 Most influential artists include Salvador
Dali, Joan Miro, Max Ernst and Rene
Magritte.
 Abstract Expressionism
 Abstract expressionism is the term applied to
new forms of abstract art developed by
American painters such as Jackson Pollock,
Mark Rothko and Willem de Kooning in the
1940s and 1950s. It is often characterized by
gestural brush-strokes or mark-making, and
the impression of spontaneity.
 The abstract expressionists were mostly
based in New York City, and also became
known as the New York school. The name
evokes their aim to make art that while
abstract was also expressive or emotional in
its effect. They were inspired by the
surrealist idea that art should come from the
unconscious mind, and by the automatism
of artist Joan Miró.
 Optical / Op Art
 Op art was a major development of painting
in the 1960s that used geometric forms to
create optical effects. The effects created by
op art ranged from the subtle, to the
disturbing and disorienting.
 Op painting used a framework of purely
geometric forms as the basis for its effects
and also drew on color theory and the
physiology and psychology of perception.
Leading figures were Bridget Riley, Jesus
Rafael Soto, and Victor Vasarely. Vasarely
was one of the originators of op art. Soto’s
work often involves mobile elements and
points up the close connection between
kinetic and op art.
 Pop Art
 Pop art is an art movement that emerged in
the 1950s and flourished in the 1960s in
America and Britain, drawing inspiration
from sources in popular and commercial
culture. Different cultures and countries
contributed to the movement during the
1960s and 70s.
 Emerging in the mid 1950s in Britain and
late 1950s in America, pop art reached its
peak in the 1960s. It began as a revolt
against the dominant approaches to art and
culture and traditional views on what art
should be. Young artists felt that what they
were taught at art school and what they saw
in museums did not have anything to do with
their lives or the things they saw around
them every day. Instead they turned to
sources such as Hollywood movies,
advertising, product packaging, pop music
and comic books for their imagery.
 Photo Realism
 Photorealism is a painting style that emerged
in Europe and the USA in the late 1960s,
characterized by its painstaking detail and
precision.
 Photorealism rejected the painterly qualities
by which individual artists could be
recognized, and instead strove to create
pictures that looked photographic. Visual
complexity, heightened clarity and a desire
to be emotionally neutral led to banal subject
matter that likened the movement to pop
art.
 The early 1990s saw a renewed interest in
photorealism, thanks to new technology in
the form of cameras and digital equipment
which offered more precision.
 Minimalism
 Minimalism is an extreme form of abstract
art developed in the USA in the 1960s and
typified by artworks composed of simple
geometric shapes based on the square and
the rectangle.
 Minimalism or minimalist art can be seen as
extending the abstract idea that art should
have its own reality and not be an imitation
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of some other thing. We usually think of art
as representing an aspect of the real world (a
landscape, a person, or even a tin of soup!);
or reflecting an experience such as an
emotion or feeling.
 With minimalism, no attempt is made to
represent an outside reality, the artist wants
the viewer to respond only to what is in front
of them. The medium, (or material) from
which it is made, and the form of the work is
the reality. Minimalist painter Frank Stella
famously said about his paintings ‘What you
see is what you see’.