INTRODUCTION OF WESTERN ART

Module -1(Part II)

List of Content:
• Renaissance
• Impressionism and post- Impressionism
• Cubism sur-realism and abstract art
Introduction to western art
• It starts from 16th Century to 20th Century.
• Renaissance artist were changed outlook and aesthetics in European art.
• In western art, the period in which many innovations have done and they are tried
to focus on a realism art form
• Transformed non-realism art forms into realism by innovation and modification
with a technical and aesthetical look.
• They are further transformed with cubism, surrealism, and abstractionism.
• Modern Indian painters worked more on the realism art form, they influenced by
western artist.
• They tried moving towards finding their own identity in art.
Western art
Renaissance

Impressionism and post-

impressionism

Cubism sur-realism and

abstract art
Renaissance period
• The word is derived from re-birth to depict revival of ancient classical culture of Greeks and
romans and was popular as “age of enlighten” for their innovations, experiments, laws and
discoveries.
• It starts from early to high renaissance and finally to mannerism and baroque.
• artist were show sense of scientific proportion and observation in their paintings
• In 15th century artist was focused on balance and harmony in art and nature with the use of light
and shadow to fit into perspective.
• The famous artists named are Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and Michael Angelo.
• The Mannerist artist focused more on the principles of the High Renaissance in order to show the
human soul.
Themes of art work
• Mona Lisa: Leonardo da Vinci , oil on popular wood in 16th century, It
depicts a woman sitting with a mysterious smile who appears to welcome
the observer.
• Pieta: Michael Angelo, in 1499 with the use of marble sculpture,
Madonna is shown to be much younger than her son, Christ, to express
her holiness.
• Night: Watch Rembrandt, in 1642, by oil on canvas, The painting
depicts a night scene.
Impressionism and post- impressionism
• Artists focused on the subject by adding the effect of light on objects in art, such as rivers,
ponds, ports, city scenes and human forms. This is achieved through the influence of emotion
and feelings .
• The pioneering artist named are Claude Monet, Eduardo Manet, Auguste Renoir and Edgar
Degas.
• After Impressionism, the artist was subject to constructing real life in art with the use of
geometric forms to express the feelings of his inner version
• Paul Cézanne focused on the volume and sense of composition for the painting, while Gauguin
and Vincent van Gogh used colors and vibrant swirl brush strokes to express their emotions and
state of mind
 Themes of art work
• Water Lilies: Monet, oil colors in 1899, He tried to portray the effect of
nature through an adorable flower.
• Still life with Onions Cezanne : In 1919, oil on canvas, He rendered
the forms by explaining the light and shadow of an object in different
tones of the same color
• Sunflower Vincent Van Gaugh: in 1876, oil on canvas, he tried to
create of gentle, passionate and attractive pictures
 Cubism, sur-realism and abstract art

• Abstract art was known as non representational art in 1910.

• Along with the use of abstract art, cubism and surrealism also partially originated and influenced his art in
the West.
• During this period, artists showed distinct features from realistic works of earlier times.
• Cubism began on the lines of abstract art by Picasso, who was famous for his cubist and sculptural art in
the form of cylinders and spheres .
• Cubist artist emphasized of importance on construction rather than emotions.
• He tried to use images of the unconscious in art by the Surrealist artist
• Surrealism began in 1924 to 1955. in this style of painting combines very realistic forms like dreams, while
Cubism is a form of art in which objects are simplified into basic geometric shapes.
• Famous surrealists artist named are Giorgio di Chirico and Salvador Dali, while abstract precursors are
Kandinsky, Delaunay, and Mondrian
 Themes of art work
• Man with Violine Pablo Picasso: oil on canvas in 1912, He tried to
use the space in a new way
• Persistence of Memory, Salvador Dali, oil on canvas in 1931,
Create a feeling of turbulent mind of unpleasant images.
• Black Lines Kandinsky: oil on canvas in 1913 his work showed
simplicity and pure images
Test your learning
1. choose the title for Pablo Picasso paintings?
• Man with Violin, Black Lines, Sunflower Vincent, Water Lilies
2. choose the odd one?
• Mona Lisa, Pieta, Night, Still life
3. What technique did he adopt in Persistence of Memory ?
• Oil on canvas, oil on wood, marble sculpture, polished stone
4. what artist described in night watch?
• Night scene, fighting, color contrast, tints and tones
Solutions
1.Man with violin
2.Still life
3.Oil on canvas
4.Night scene
Activity
• Class will be divided into pairs.
• Each student pair in the class need to take each theme from the following topics:
• Renaissance
• Impressionism and post- Impressionism
• Cubism sur-realism and abstract art.
• Prepare a 5 minute presentation for each topic.
• Assessment will be done on these criteria: content quality, time, presentation.