Contemporary Art and Ecological Themes

Introduction

• Visual art has been used to interpret the natural environment for thousands of years
• Prehistoric cave paintings, Roman murals, and Chinese ink paintings are examples
• Landscape paintings emerged as a significant art genre in the 17th century

Brief Overview of Western Art

• Art of the Old Stone Age: cave paintings (e.g., Chauvet Cave) depicting animals using red ochre and black charcoal
• Art of the Middle Stone Age: cave paintings in rock shelters in Spain, showing humans and animals
• Art of the New Stone Age: megalithic structures, such as Stonehenge, in Britain made with large stones

Ancient Mesopotamian Art

• Civilizations in Mesopotamia (between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers) developed writing and art alongside Egypt
• Sumerians created impressive sculptures, buildings, and ziggurats (temples) between 4000-330 BCE
• Babylonians built ziggurats and the Ishtar Gate in the 7th century BC-4th century BC

Ancient Egyptian Art

• Date from 3000 BCE-332 BCE.
• Notable for colossal monuments like the Sphinx and pyramids.
• Emphasis on hierarchical scale (importance determined sizes of figures).
• Famous works include the Palette of King Narmer and Tutankhamun's burial mask

Greek and Roman Art

• Cycladic, Minoan, and Mycenaean art: precursors to Greek art, featuring simplified figures, pottery, and architecture
• Greek art (Archaic, Early, and Middle Classical Periods): shifted from stiff, frontal poses to more natural postures and expressions
• Roman art: monumental architecture (Colosseum, Pantheon), realism in portraiture and relief sculptures

Byzantine and Medieval Art

• After the fall of the Roman Empire, artistic traditions in Europe were mostly contained within and supported by the Church
• Romanesque churches with barrel vaults and Roman arches are examples
• Gothic cathedrals, featuring pointed arches and ribbed vaults

The Renaissance in Southern Europe

• The Renaissance (1400-1600) saw a revival of classical styles in art and architecture
• Renaissance artists, such as Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, emphasized realism, perspective, and human emotion
• Important architectural elements include the dome of Florence Cathedral

The Renaissance in Northern Europe

• Northern European Renaissance artists (e.g., Dürer, Grünewald) focused on detailed observation and realistic depiction in their work
• Utilized oil paints, which offered expanded color palettes and made the detailed work of artists possible

Baroque Art

• Baroque art (1600-1750) contrasted with the Renaissance in its dynamic compositions, emotional intensity, and ornamentation
• Artists like Bernini and Caravaggio focused on drama and theatricality
• Architectural developments include elaborate interiors, emphasized movement and grandeur with the usage of rich decorations, and elaborate ceilings, for example

Rococo, Neoclassicism, and Romanticism

• Rococo art (1700-1770s) exhibited wit, elegance, and frivolity in contrast to the grandeur of the Baroque
• Neoclassical art (1750-1850) reacted against the frivolity of the Rococo period, reviving classical ideals and aesthetics.
• Romanticism (1790-1850) focused on emotion, nature, and individualism

Realism and Impressionism

• Realism, exemplified by artists like Gustave Courbet, sought to depict the world realistically with an emphasis on ordinary people
• Impressionism, which emerged during the 19th century, focused on capturing light and color as seen by the eye in a particular moment. (e.g., Monet, Cézanne)

Post-Impressionism and Other Late 19th-Century Developments

• Post-Impressionism (late 1880s-early 1900s): artists like Cézanne, Van Gogh, and Gauguin moved beyond the focus on capturing light and color to express personal emotions and visions.
• This era marked developments in new mediums, such as photography and the printing press, prompting artists to investigate new ways to depict and represent modern life

The Emergence of Modernism

• Modernism (early 20th century) rejected traditional approaches to art in favor of innovation and experimentation in form and color
• Early 20th-century movements included Cubism, Expressionism, and Dadaism; a key figure in the movement was Picasso
• Modernist artists focused on new mediums, such as photography, film, and digital technology
• Other relevant artists included Matisse, Pollock, and Rothko

Asian Art

• Chinese art: ancient traditions and archaeological finds.
• Indian art: diverse range of religious and cultural influences
• Japanese Art: use of linear perspective and flat areas of color in printmaking

African and Oceanic Art

• African and oceanic art is diverse across the continent; the art was often used for ceremonies and social purpose rather than decoration.
• Archaeological sources have been used to investigate the art’s rich history.
• Perishable materials such as wood were used in creating art that is rarely preserved

Islamic Art

• Follows the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad
• Holy book, the Quran, is a central focus.
• Abstract and calligraphic decor are common
• Islamic architecture, mosques, and religious structures (e.g., Dome of the Rock)

The Americas

• The art of the Americas is diverse and includes major civilizations and cultures (e.g., Olmec, Toltec, Aztec, Inca, and Maya)
• The art in the Americas had significant influence from other regions
• Art used for communal purpose rather than decoration; many pieces have been lost to damage and looting.

Elements of Art

• Line: a visual mark that defines a shape or form. Variations exist in thickness, direction, and quality.
• Shape: two-dimensional area created by lines, defining forms within a flat space
• Form: three-dimensional representation of objects, creating volumes, shapes, and textures. It extends into three dimensions
• Space: the emptiness around objects, creating depths and visual perspective. Techniques like aerial perspective and linear perspective create illusory depths in two-dimensional artwork
• Color: elements in any artwork, which include hues, values, intensities, and mixtures. They often provoke emotional responses
• Texture: the surface quality or feel of an object, which can be actual (physical) or visual (implied). Artists use textures to create a certain mood or to suggest the feeling of a material like roughness/smoothness

Processes and Techniques

• Drawing: a process of making marks on a surface by utilizing various tools and media (e.g., pencils, pens, etc)
• Printmaking: the process of making multiple artworks using a printing plate. (e.g., relief prints, intaglio prints, lithography)
• Painting: using various mediums to create two-dimensional artworks on a surface. Examples: tempera, oil paints, watercolors, etc)
• Sculpture: creation of three-dimensional art objects using various materials and processes. (e.g., carving, modeling, casting)

Architecture

• Architecture involves designing and constructing buildings and other structures
• Historically, architecture reflected and developed the needs, beliefs, and cultural norms of the time, and it used varied materials. Examples from Ancient Greek temples to modern buildings, like the Crystal Palace and the Guggenheim Museum

Performance Art

• Performance art encompasses various mediums (video, installation, performance)
• Interdisciplinary approaches and collaborations are typically employed in environmental art.
• Performance art aims to challenge traditional art forms, prioritizing actions rather than physical objects

Craft and Folk Art

• Artworks made by individuals, often for practical use, with distinctive and culturally specific features
• The art is sometimes utilitarian, but also aesthetically pleasing, for example, pottery, textiles, jewelry, etc