The Introduction to Western History and its

Impact on the world

Introduction to Art History
Art History: an academic discipline dedicated to the reconstruction of the social, cultural, and
economic contexts in which an artwork is created
wants to arrive at an understanding of art and its meaning in historical context
related to anthropology, sociology, and history
• aesthetics: the philosophical inquiry into the nature/expression of beauty
• art criticism: the explanation of current art events to the general public via press
• Methods and Inquires of AH
Before, art limited to fine art only. (paintings, prints, drawings, sculpture, architecture)
now much more broad – includes “craft” (textiles, pottery, body art)
even things like mass-produced posters; telephones; forks
meaning of a piece of art changes over time and by the person viewing it
• The Nature of AH Inquiry
formal analysis: focuses on visual qualities of the work (needs observation and description)
contextual analysis: examining the context the artwork was created in as well as
later contexts it was in and used in (cultural, social, religious, economic context)
• Sources, Documents, and the Work of Historians
start by closely analyzing the work of art itself
then use written sources to figure out its context
may also use interviews with the artists and consumers
Stone Ages
ART OF THE OLD STONE AGE (2.5 million years ago ・ 12,000 BCE)
•Chauvet Cave
paintings & engravings created using red ochre & black charcoal
depict animals such as horses, rhinoceros, lions, buffalos, & mammoths
Venus of Willendorf
small stone female figures
exaggerated bellies, breasts, & pubic areas
might have been used as fertility figures
ART OF THE MIDDLE STONE AGE (12,000 ・ 8,000 BCE)
•began using rock shelters instead of caves
•created around 7000 BCE ・ 4000 BCE
•began portraying human figures
ART OF THE NEW STONE AGE
•megaliths (great stones)
•Stonehenge (Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England)
built in many phases around 2100 BCE
concentric rings made with sarsen stones
& bluestones
post and lintel construction
 Greek Art
800BC-50BC
Glorified Body
Emphasis on Human Achievement
Sculpture of Perfect Greek gods
Black-Figure Vases
Mosaics
Use of Columns
-Doric, Ionic, Corinthian
Roman Art 700BC- 500AD

Reinforced Concrete
The Arch
The Dome
Portraits more “honest”
Equestrian Statues
How does Modern Art differ
from Classical Art?
 What is Classicism?

A traditional style of art, literature, music,

architecture, etc., that is usually graceful and
simple with parts that are organized in a
pleasing way.
Adherence to the aesthetic values embodied in
ancient Greek and Roman art and literature.
A style based on the study of Greek and Roman
models, characterized by emotional restraint
and regularity of form.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/classicis
What is Modern Art?

Any creative group active in the innovation and

application of new concepts and techniques in
a given field (especially in the arts).

Traditions of the past have been thrown aside

because of the spirit of experimentation.
Modern art includes artistic works produced
during the period extending roughly from the
1860s to the 1970s.
* Modern art can be traced back to the
INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION, a period that lasted
from the 18th to the 19th century
Characteristic of the 20th and 21st centuries
and of the later part of the 19th century.