Art Movements: Ancient and Cave Art

• An art movement is a collective name for art with a common style, philosophy, and technique.
• The study of art movements journey begins with ancient art and progresses to 20th-century movements.

Ancient Art

• Ancient art spans early civilizations from prehistoric times to classical antiquity.
• It embodies human expression and cultural values throughout history.
• Ancient art encompasses Cave art, Egyptian art, and Greek and Roman art.

Cave Art

• Cave art began around 40,000 years ago, marking art's origin.
• The Lascaux Cave in France contains paintings of animals, human figures, and abstract symbols.
• Early humans used art for communication and to connect with their environment.

Cave Art Characteristics

• Artists utilized natural pigments from ochre, charcoal, and minerals mixed with animal fats or water to create paint.
• These paints were applied using primitive tools like twigs or animal hair.
• Artworks are characterized by simple forms, silhouettes, and outlines.
• Dynamic animals like bison, horses, and deer are depicted, along with hand stencils and geometric patterns.
• Cave art was likely used for hunting rituals and documenting significant events.
• The artists are unknown, but their works reflect a shared cultural effort of early hunters.

Egyptian Art

• Egyptian art flourished from 3000 BCE to 30 BCE.
• The art focused on the afterlife and honoring gods and pharaohs.

Egyptian Art Characteristics

• Artists used stone, wood, metal, and papyrus. Stone was used for sculptures and monuments, wood for smaller artifacts, metal for decorative items, and papyrus for painting and writing.
• Egyptian art employed the hieratic scale, where larger figures indicated higher status.
• The Karnak Temple features colossal statues of gods and pharaohs.
• Figures are often shown in frontal poses, with heads and legs in profile.
• Symbolism played a crucial role, with colors and icons carrying specific meanings.
• Green symbolized fertility and rebirth and is seen in depictions of Osiris and the ankh representing life.
• Religious and funerary purposes were primary, with artworks for temples or tombs to aid the deceased's journey to the afterlife.
• Imhotep, a major architect in ancient Egypt, designed the Pyramid of Djoser and influenced sculpture, revered as a god of wisdom and healing.

Greek Art

• Greek art, spanning from 800 BCE to 30 BCE, influenced Western culture.
• The art emphasizes beauty, humanism, and idealized representations of the human form.

Greek Art characteristics

• Artists primarily used marble, bronze, and pottery.
• Marble enabled fine detail in sculpture, while bronze allowed for dynamic poses.
• Pottery includes the black-figure François Vase, with figures painted in black on a red clay background.
• Another Pottery type is the red-figure Panathenaic Amphora, where figures retain the clay's natural red color against a black background.
• Naturalism distinguishes Greek sculpture.
• Artists used Contrapposto to give figures a lifelike sense of movement and balance.
• Greek art celebrated human achievement, mythology, and the gods.
• Art was created for public spaces and temples, reflecting civic pride.
• Phidias is renowned for the statue of Zeus at Olympia.
• Praxiteles is known for a relatable and sensual approach, exemplified by Aphrodite of Knidos (Cnidus).

Roman Art

• Roman art, from 500 BCE to 500 CE, adapted Greek influences.
• Roman art prioritized realism and everyday life, reflecting Roman society.

Roman Art Characteristics

• Artists used marble for sculptures, frescoes for wall paintings, and mosaics for decorative flooring.
• Marble offered durability and detail, frescoes added color and depth, and mosaics had intricate designs with colored stones or glass.
• Roman art emphasized portraiture, especially busts showing likeness and character, often reflecting age and wisdom.
• Architectural innovations such as the arch and dome enabled larger structures, like the Pantheon and Roman Aqueducts.
• Roman art conveyed power, commemorated achievements, and reflected cultural values.
• Public monuments honored emperors and heroes, reinforcing their status, while art in private homes mirrored social standing.
• Augustus, the first Roman emperor, promoted idealized styles and themes of peace.
• Augustus funded structures like the Ara Pacis and the Forum of Augustus (Foro di Augusto).

Medieval Art

• Medieval art (500 to 1400 CE) was heavily influenced by the church.
• Medieval art primarily had religious themes.

Medieval Art Characteristics

• Artists used illuminated manuscripts, stained glass windows, and sculpture.
• Illuminated manuscripts featured illustrations on parchment, while stained glass windows adorned cathedrals with biblical stories.
• Sculpture conveyed religious narratives on church facades and altars.
• Medieval art is known for symbolic representations such as paintings and illuminated texts.
• Art emphasized outlines and bold colors over realistic proportions.
• Figures were stylized, prioritizing spirituality, aligning with the educational purpose of art.
• The main goal was to educate and inspire religious devotion.
• It conveyed biblical stories, fostering contemplation and spiritual connection during worship.
• Many medieval artists are anonymous because individual recognition was uncommon.
• Monks dedicated to spiritual and artistic pursuits created much of the artwork.
• The Book of Kells and the Limbourg brothers' Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, are illuminated manuscripts.

Asian Art

• Asian art displays a rich cultural heritage, diverse religions, and philosophies over thousands of years.
• It shows cultural identity while evolving alongside traditional practices.
• Notable forms include Chinese painting and Ukiyo-e (Japanese print).

Chinese Painting

• Rooted in ancient traditions, Chinese painting emphasizes harmony with nature and philosophical concepts.

Chinese Painting Characteristics

• Traditional works mainly use ink and brush on silk or paper.
• The ink is made from natural materials, varying the tones.
• Silk has been favored for centuries, with more recent works commonly employing rice paper.
• Two main styles include landscape and calligraphy.
• Landscape painting depicts mountains, rivers, and forests while, calligraphy complements paintings and conveys philosophical ideas.
• Chinese painting expresses spiritual and philosophical concepts.
• Artists aim to convey the essence of nature and emotions such as harmony, balance, etc
• These artworks serve as meditative objects.
• Wang Wei was a Tang dynasty artist known for works like A Solitary Temple Amid Clearing Peaks.

Ukiyo-e (Japanese Print)

• Ukiyo-e emerged in Japan during the Edo period (1603-1868).
• The term Ukiyo means "pictures of the floating world" and celebrates everyday life.

Ukiyo-e Characteristics

• Artists primarily used woodblock printing for mass production.
• They carved images into wooden blocks, applied ink, and pressed paper onto the blocks to create prints.
• Ukiyo-e is known for colors, bold lines, and perspective.
• Bokashi to create color gradients and depth was employed.
• Capturing fleeting moments in beauty from landscapes, kabuki actors, beautiful people (bijin), and popular stories was the main purpose.
• Katsushika Hokusai for The Great Wave off Kanagawa
• Utagawa Hiroshige for the landscape series Fifty-Three Stations of the Tōkaidō,