Art Appreciation Reviewer Midterm PDF
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This document provides a brief history of art, starting with the Dark Ages and moving through the Medieval period to the Renaissance. It explores different art styles, including Byzantine, classical, abstract, and universal, highlighting key characteristics of each era. It also mentions famous artists and important historical events related to art.
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ART APPRECIATION REVIEWER MIDTERM BRIEF HISTORY DEFINING ART DARK AGES (*Early Middle Ages)* - In [Western Europe] after the fall of the [Western Roman Empire] that characterizes it as marked by economic, intellectual and cultural decline. - This collapse was limited to Western Rome...
ART APPRECIATION REVIEWER MIDTERM BRIEF HISTORY DEFINING ART DARK AGES (*Early Middle Ages)* - In [Western Europe] after the fall of the [Western Roman Empire] that characterizes it as marked by economic, intellectual and cultural decline. - This collapse was limited to Western Rome, which the **Byzantine Empire** (Eastern Roman Empire) was the continuation of the Roman Empire in its eastern provinces during **Late Antiquity** and the Middle Ages, when its [capital city was Constantinople] as the actual seat of ancient Rome. - Late Antiquity refers to **the [period between approximately 250 and 750 AD]**. During this time, **Roman art** underwent significant changes, influenced by the rise of Christianity, the influx of Germanic tribes, and the transformation of urban centers. The *Byzantine art* generally characterized by a **move away from the naturalism of the Classical tradition towards the more abstract and universal.** - **Classical tradition of art** means the style, themes, technique, and subject of [arts are from Ancient Greece and Rome]. - **Abstract art** moves away from representational forms and instead [utilizes shapes, colors, and lines] to achieve its effect. - **Universal art** seeks to resonate on a level that transcends cultural and temporal boundaries, often [aiming to express universal human experiences or emotions.] - In this era start the art of [crusades] from the catholic reformation - express faith and help people connect with their religion - viewers in churches and homes, influencing how they thought and felt about their beliefs. - Witnessed the slow erosion of crusaders in the holy land in 1291, Constantinople fell in Ottomans in 1453 MEDIEVAL PERIOD - Religious - Figures look flat and stiff with little real movement - Important figures are large - Fully clothes, draped in deeply carved, still looking clothes - Faces are solemn with little emotion - Use vibrant colors - 2-dimensional figures - Single color - ![](media/image1.jpeg)church forbids displaying naked FORMS OF ARTS - Stained glass windows, sculpture, illuminated manuscript, paintings, tapestries PURPOSES - To teach religion to people who cannot read and write 3 MAJORS OF MEDIEVAL ART 1. EARLY CHRISTIAN (350 C.E) - created from the [2nd to the 6th centuries], often featured symbols like the fish (ichthys), crosses, and [figures of Jesus and saints]. - Artists aimed to communicate their [faith and biblical stories] through simple and symbolic imagery, especially in catacombs and churches. - Medieval art, popular in houses of worship, served as decoration for public appreciation and contained holy and spiritual references, portraying biblical scenes through paintings, sculptures, and architecture [expressing Christian themes and beliefs]. 2. ROMANESQUE (11^TH^ CENTURY) - Romanesque art emphasized architecture and visual [storytelling] through various artistic forms. - The style featured [semi-circular arches, heavy stone walls, and stable construction] in monasteries and churches in European cities. - It symbolized the wealth and power of church monasteries, with typical pieces including stained glass, engravings, and murals inspired by ancient Rome. 3. GOTHIC STYLE (12^TH^ CENTURY) - The Gothic art style, developed during the [French Monarchy], is known for its detailed architecture featuring pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses that allowed for larger structures and stained-glass windows. - It encompasses sculptures, paintings, and illuminated manuscripts with a focus on religious themes to inspire awe and [transcendence through its grandeur and intricate details]. FAMOUS ARTIST OF MEDIEVAL PERIOD - DUCCIO di BOUNINSEGNA, founder of the Sienese School painting, was one of the greatest Italian painters "MAESTA has been recognized as the greatest of all his works" - Columbus made his voyage at the Americas in 1492. The contact initiated by Columbus between Europe and the Americas led to a rich exchange of ideas, motifs, and materials. This cultural exchange influenced art, introducing new themes, materials (like cacao and new textiles), and perspectives into European art. Trade, diplomacy and conquest connected Christendom to the wider world, which in turn had a great impact on art. - Artists travelled both within and between countries and on occasion, even between continents. - Such mobility was facilitated by the network of the **European courts** which were instrumental in the rapid spread of the **Italian Renaissance.** - These courts were places where important people like kings and nobles gathered, and they encouraged artists, thinkers, and innovators to travel and share their work. - The spread of the Italian Renaissance was helped by a system of European courts that promoted movement and exchange of ideas. This made it easier for new ideas and styles from the Renaissance in Italy to spread to other parts of Europe quickly. - [RENAISSANCE means rebirth or revival.] This is the early modern period. RENAISSANCES - *Renaissance* is a French word, deriving its origins from the Italian word *rinascita*, which means "rebirth". - Renaissance art is marked by the gradual shift from the abstract forms of the medieval period to the representational forms of the 15^th^ century. - **Representational art **depicts anything from the real world. It can have a subject of landscapes, animals, fruit, figures, a historical event, and countless others. The opposite of this is nonrepresentational art, which depicts anything, not from the real world. CHARACTERISTIC - Both religious and non-religious - Look idealized and perfect - May nude or clothed - Doing real task of daily life - Faces express what are people thinking - Colors respond to light - Lots of nature detail - Symmetrical (balance on both side) FORMS OF ART - Sculpture, murals, drawing, painting PURPOSE - To show the importance of people and nature not just religion 3. ![](media/image1.jpeg)MAJOR PERIODS OF RENAISSANCE ART **Proto-Renaissance Art (1300-1400)** - Proto-Renaissance art refers to the early stage of the Renaissance period that began in Italy during the late 13th and early 14th centuries. - This art style marked a shift from the flat, stylized figures of the Middle Ages to a more **realistic representation of humans and the natural world.** - Artists started to focus on perspective, light, and human emotion, paving the way for the full Renaissance that followed. **Early Renaissance Art (1400-1500)** - Early Renaissance painting featured a heavy focus on certain areas of painting like proportion and human expression. - The Early Renaissance saw a stronger emphasis on humanism, with art focused on the individual, nature. Artists studied the human figure more rigorously, leading to advancements in anatomy and proportion. High Renaissance (1500-1600) - The High Renaissance, subsequently coined to denote the a**rtistic pinnacle of the Renaissance,** refers to a thirty-year period exemplified by the groundbreaking, iconic works of art being made in Italy during what was considered a thriving societal prime. - It is the period of the most exceptional artistic production of masterpiece in Italian state. **It is the period of the best known paintings, sculptures, and architecture.** Some of the Famous artist of Renaissance Period LEONARDO DA VINCI - An Italian polymath of high renaissance period and is active as a painter, engineer, sculptor, architect and theorist. He serves as the role model applying the scientific method to every aspect of life, including art and music. ***"Monalisa and The Last Supper"*** MICHELANGELO - Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni known as Michelangelo was an Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet of high renaissance period. ***"The frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel"*** Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino - Known as Raphael was an Italian painter, sculptor, and architect of high renaissance period. - He was known and admired for its clarity of form, ease of composition and visual idea of human grandeur (it means high rank or important). Sandro **Botticelli** **The** **Abyss** **of** **Hell**' was created in 1480 in Early **Renaissance** style. ![](media/image1.jpeg) CHAPTER 1 DEFINITIONS OF ART - ART - from Latin "ars" means "ability","skill" - Various human actions that produce visual, auditory, and staged works are classified as art, which showcases creativity and technical proficiency for aesthetic enjoyment. - VISUAL ART - The oldest documented forms of art - includes images or objects in fields like *painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, and other visual media.* - ARCHITECTURE - Decorative arts are visual arts focused on creating functional objects, emphasizing practical use, unlike traditional visual arts such as painting. - FORM - encompasses all visible elements of art and their arrangement. - Materials for creating artwork include marble, bronze, wood, steel, oil paint, and more. - The work employs color strategically, showcasing tonal variation, contrast, and harmony effectively. - Examine line use: curved, angular, directional, repetitive, flowing, irregular. - The [work\'s texture] can vary from rough to smooth and tactile to fluid, affecting viewer interaction. - Its [composition] could feature elements like one-point perspective or symmetry, while its scale may range from monumental to intimate. - Lastly, [duration] is crucial, especially for video and performance, dictating viewer engagement time. - CONTENT - It is about what is happening in the works, what meaning you derive from them, and whether or not they create a particular mood or reaction. - [Formal elements], titles, and recurring motifs or symbols enhance understanding of a work\'s content. BEAUTY AND AESTHETICS - BEAUTY - Every individual has a natural affinity for beauty. - AESTHETIC - a word that was coined in 1735, by Alexander Baumgarten - study of beauty, art, taste, and value judgments in art, according to Theodor Lipps in the philosophy of aesthetics. - Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy that studies the phenomenon of beauty, analyzing why certain things are considered beautiful. - It also covers the philosophy of art and beauty, exploring parameters of what is considered art and the beauty attributed to it. - Aesthetics considers elements like balance, color, and shape in design, as well as the study of the ugly as a dialectic category of beauty. - The field studies criteria for beauty, ugliness, humor, and other abstract appreciations experienced through the senses. - Lipps, a German philosopher, was influential in the field, attracting students worldwide and focusing on conceptions of art and aesthetics in his philosophy. NATURE IS EVERYWHERE 1. ART IS EVERYWHERE - Examples of relief sculpture; coins, medal, pendant 2. ART AS EXPRESSION AND COMMUNICATION - We express our emotional state by some visible signs and activities. 3. ART AS A CREATION - Building involves the use of existing materials, either by blending or rearranging them to create new ones. It takes an artistic skill to organize things into aesthetic and meaningful categories, which can be acquired through training and practice. It is a planned work of art. 4. ART AND EXPERIENCE - Art is closely linked to experience, with onlookers and listeners having unique experiences while engaging with it. - Sensory response is triggered through delight experienced with our senses - Emotional response is evoked by familiar subjects. - Intellectual response, on the other hand, occurs when the mind is stimulated by the unique arrangements of elements in a work of art 5. ![](media/image1.jpeg) ART AND NATURE - Art is a human-made creation distinct from natural occurrences. - Artists often draw inspiration from nature, utilizing it as a medium, but ultimately, art is an artificial construct separate from the natural world. 6. ART AND BEAUTY - Beauty concepts change over time, vary among cultures. CHAPTER 2 PROCESS OF ART Artists rely on: ❑family, ❑friends, ❑peers, Materials of artist: from the pencil and paper to the painter's canvas, paints and brushes, The sculptor's wood, stone and tools & the photographer's film, digital camera and software or chemicals used to manipulate an image. Support Networks where Art exhibit, market, move, store and critic: - Commercial art galleries A place to focus solely on [buying and selling], and, in the process, making art a commodity. - Museums -The primary function is in the form of a cultural repository -- [a place for viewing]. - The Critic another function in the process. offer insight into art's meaning and [make judgments] determining 'good' or 'bad' art based on the intellectual, aesthetic and cultural standards they reflect. INDIVIDUAL ARTIST \- Studio work is common among artists who are dedicated to creating art through their own unique story and vision. Artist Director are individuals who work with a paid assistant or an artist who does not create their own artwork. ARTISTIC TRAINING METHODS Artistic training Purpose - By enhancing the artists\' creative potential, the program can also reinforce their aesthetic handle skills and optimize their workflow. Artistic Training Methods and Cultural Considerations - For centuries, artisans have formed groups to preserve the secrets of their craft and pass down their knowledge to APPRENTICES - Artists typically train by working as an apprentices with an established artists. - In traditional cultures, learning involves mastering craft, skills, and cultural knowledge. - Developing countries prioritize education over experience, leading to the establishment of art schools. - The Royal Academy of France, [founded by Louis XIV] in the 17th century, served as a model for these schools. - The Victorians introduced art into grade schools in the 19^th^ century to boost morale and improve hand-to-eye coordination for industrial work. - Académie Royale: The Academy began holding regular exhibitions of its members\' work, called [Salons], in 1737 and continued throughout the 19th century. - Victorian times saw the rise of art schools. These schools taught students to draw and paint. - They valued learning from nature and learned ancient arts. - Art during this period influenced people\'s perception of beauty and creativity. This has encouraged many to appreciate art and try to create their own. ![](media/image1.jpeg)REQUIRED TO BECOME AN ARTIST: - SKILL - one of the qualities that we value in the arts. Becoming skilled means repeating an art or craft over and over again. - TALENT - Good art cannot be created by talent alone. It takes determination, patience, skill, mental attitude and years of practice to become an artist. - CREATIVITY - Creativity is crucial for artists, but can also make them critical, affecting art buying and selling. ART AS SOCIAL ACTIVITY Art is not done by a person alone. Some of the grandest works of art are made not by a single person but by many people - PUBLIC ART is a good example of it - ![](media/image3.png)For example, the pyramids in Egypt and Mexico are huge structures built by hundreds of laborers under the supervision of architects and engineers. - The creation of such works is a collaborative effort by many people, and it becomes a wonderful work of art without the artist\'s signature. - AIDS Memorial Quilt Project - Begun in 1987, families and friends have created quilts to memorialize lives lost to AIDS, showcasing the power of community art. Controversy can arise from public art projects, which are funded by private donations or public tax dollars. Defining 'good' or 'bad' art for public spaces is subjective, and using public funds adds complexity to the issue. ![](media/image1.jpeg)CHAPTER 3 SUBJECTIVE AND OBJECTIVE PERSPECTIVE - The first level in approaching art is learning to **LOOK** at it. From this perspective, the ***subjective*** (knowledge residing in the emotions and thoughts of the viewer) almost completely dominates our way of looking at art. In the arts, it's especially important to begin to develop an informed or ***objective*** opinion rather than just an instinctual reaction. Naturally, there is a lot more to it. We need to take into account a cultural component in how we perceive images and that we do so in subjective ways. To look objectively is to get an unbiased overview of our field of vision. ARTISTIC ROLES - **Visual artists** and the **works** -produce perform specific roles These roles vary between cultures. We can examine some general areas to see the diversity they offer -- and perhaps come up with some new ones of our own. 1\. Description- A traditional role of visual art is to describe our self and our surroundings (paintings and drawings) - hand print: a universal symbol of human communication. Examples: \* Portraits-capture the accuracy of physical characteristics. For thousands of years this role was reserved for images of those in positions of [power, influence and authority.] \*Landscapes-give us detailed information about our [natural and human made surroundings.] \*Scientific Illustration[- documentation] developed through the [art of science]. \*Enhancing our World-This [role is more utilitarian] than others. It includes [textiles and product design], [decorative embellishments] to the items we use every day, and all the [aesthetic considerations] that create a more comfortable, expressive environment. ARTISTIC CATEGORIES 1. ***Fine Art*** - has a distinction of being some of [the finest examples of our human artistic heritage. ] drawings, paintings, sculptures, photographs and, in the last decade, new media 2. ***Craft*** - a category of art that shows a high degree of skilled workmanship in its production. Often **[highly decorated].** Ex. Handmade furniture, glassware, fine metalworking, and leather goods 3. ***Popular Culture*** - This category contains we are exposed to everyday. EX. posters, graffiti, advertising, popular music, television and digital imagery, magazines, books and movies (as distinguished from film, which we'll examine in a different context later in the course). Also included are cars, celebrity status and all the ideas and attitudes that help define the contemporary period of a particular culture. ARTISTIC STYLE ***1. Style-*** refers to a particular kind of [appearance in works of art]. - **Naturalistic Style** - uses recognizable images with a high level of accuracy in their depiction. Naturalism also includes the idealized object: **one that is modified to achieve a kind of perfection within the bounds of aesthetics and form.** - ***Abstract Style*** - style is based on a recognizable object but which is then manipulated by distortion, scale issues or other artistic devices. **Abstraction can be created by exaggerating form, simplifying shapes or the use of strong colors.** - **Non-objective imagery** - **has no relation to the 'real' world -- that is -- the work of art is based solely upon itself.** In this way the non-objective style is completely different than abstract, and it's important to make the distinction between the two. - ![](media/image1.jpeg)***Cultural Styles*** - refer to distinctive characteristics in artworks throughout a particular society or culture. Cultural styles are formed over hundreds or even thousands of years and help **define cultural identity.** STYLES OF MODERN ART THE SEARCH FOR MEANING IN ART - Subject matter in art was work of the **French realists,** **for they were among the first artists who took the common people, laborers and peasants, as subjects of art.** Aimed to show these people as they were, in their sufferings and yet surmounting these by their qualities of spirit. - The search for meaning in art continued to the beginning of the 20th century with **[Pablo Picasso].** 1. EXPRESSIONISM- Believe in the necessity of a [spiritual rebirth]. - **Refers to the [expression of subjective emotions, inner experiences and spiritual themes]**, as opposed to realistic depictions of people or nature. - A style derived from the crises of modern times was expressionism, so **called because of the primacy of feeling, often [strong and violent], always intensely personal**, in the work of art. **Vincent Van Gogh** -A [Dutch artist] who spent most of his life in France, is named a worthy predecessor of the movement, with his gnarled and tortured shapes, his strong rhythms, as in [**Starry Night** and **Road with Cypress**], in which road, the trees, and the [stars seem to whirl together] in one universal rhythm. ![](media/image6.jpeg)**James Ensor** -He made numerous [paintings of people as skeletons]. His print, **[The Scream]**, for instance, with its skull-like figure howling on a bridge, is the image of contemporary neurosis. 2. DADAISM- In 1916, during the period of WW1, a group of young intellectuals in Zurich, Switzerland, headed by Tristan Tzara, founded the movement which came to be known as Dadaism, from [German] word meaning ["Childish gabble"]. - The art, poetry and performance produced by dada artists is often satirical and nonsensical in nature. - It rejected traditional aesthetic values and embraced chaos, absurdity, and anti-bourgeois sentiments **Marcel Duchamp & Frances Picabia** \- Two Dadaist, did a completely unprecedented and startling act: to DaVinci's revered painting, **MONA LISA,** known for her enigmatic smile, they added a beard and a mustache. 3. SURREALISM- An artistic movement which drew its impulse from [the psycho-analytic methods of Freud], particularly free association and the [interpretation of dreams]. - Portrays a wide array of themes of imagination, choices of colors, and various art techniques. Surrealist artists focus on displaying the unconscious mind. - **It tries to reveal a new and higher reality than that of daily life.**![](media/image1.jpeg) Salvador Dali ["The Persistence of Memory"] The painting depicts a dream world in which common objects are deformed and displayed in a bizarre and irrational way: watches, solid and hard objects appear to be inexplicably limp and melting in the desolate landscape. **Dalí paints his fantastical vision in a meticulous and realistic manner: he effortlessly integrates the real and the imaginary in order "to systemize confusion and thus to help discredit completely the world of reality".** 4. REALISM- The attempt of an artist [to portray the subject as it is.] This movement started during the 19th century by an artist named Gustave Courbet. ![](media/image9.jpeg)Fernando Amorsolo -one of the greatest realist, in the Philippines 5. Impressionism- developed in France in the 19^th^ century and is based on the practice of painting out of doors and spontaneously **'[on the spot']** rather than in a studio from sketches. Landscapes and scenes of everyday life - It felt the influence of [Bergon's philosophy] that reality is a continual process of development and change, like an unending stream. - **Impressionism was developed by [Claude Monet](https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/claude-monet-1652).** **Claude Monet** **["Rouen Cathedral"]** **Claude Monet\'s series of paintings of Rouen Cathedral from 1892-1894, showcasing different light and weather conditions, is considered the climax of Impressionism. It received immediate praise from critics and later influenced artists like Wassily Kandinsky and Roy Lichtenstein.** 6. **Fauvism- The group of Fauvist painters included Henri Matisse, Andre Derain, and S. Bonnard whose [striking, bold use of colors, which were no longer confined] within definite planes but spilled over freely, caused a disagreeing critic to call the Fauves, the French word for "Wild Beasts".** - **It [depicts pictures of comfort, joy and pleasure]. which is characterized by strong colors and fierce brushwork.** ![](media/image11.jpeg)**Henri Matisse** **" Woman with Hat, (Femme au chapeau)" 1905.** **Amélie, the artist\'s wife, is portrayed in an elegant outfit with French bourgeois flair in this portrait. Despite the vibrant colors of her dress, Matisse revealed that she was actually wearing black when posing for the painting.** 7. **Pointillism- sometimes called [divisionism]. The obvious characteristic of this style is the [application of tiny dots].** 8. ![](media/image1.jpeg)**Cubism- The movement to [regain structure on painting] was initiated by Pablo Picasso, who is known as the [Father of Cubism.]** - **Cubist artists broke down objects into geometric shapes and reassembled them from various angles. ** - **Paul Cézanne is seen as a crucial figure in the shift from [Impressionism to Modernism]. [Often called the \"Father of Cubism,\"] his influence on artists like Picasso and Braque is undeniable. His focus on form, color, and perspective laid the groundwork for Cubist painting, emphasizing structure and multiple perspectives.** **Pablo Ruiz Picasso** **-Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, and theatre designer who spent most of his adult life in France.** 9. ![](media/image14.jpeg)**Futurism- capture the dynamism and energy of the modern world.** - **The method used by an artist to capture the speed and force of [modern industrial society]. The artist's painting [glorify the mechanical energy] of modern life.** **Marcel Duchamp** 10. Abstraction-Does not represent an accurate depiction of visual reality, [communicating instead through lines, shapes, colors, forms and gestural marks]. - **It often seeks to evoke emotions, ideas, or concepts** rather than depict recognizable objects or scenes. This approach encourages viewers **to interpret the artwork subjectively**, allowing for personal connections and meanings. - Wassily Kandinsky 11. Distortion- This is clearly manifested when the subject is in [misshapen condition], or the regular shape is twisted out. This is a technique employed by the artist to dramatized the shape of a figure to create an emotional effect. - ![](media/image16.jpeg)**Any change made by an artist to the shape, size or visual character of a form to express an idea,** convey a feeling or enhance visual impact. - HENREITTA HARRIS 12. Elongation- Refers to that which is [being lengthened], a protraction or an extension. - ![](media/image17.jpeg)**Longer than usual or extended out further than expected.** **Modigliani:** **Portrait of Jeanne Hebuterne (1918)** 13. Mangling- Shows the subject or [objects which are cut], lacerated, mutilated or hacked with repeated blows. Pablo Picasso " Bust of a Woman" 1938 14. Symbolism- The representation of things or subjects by means of symbols. This art movement is usually characterized by or related to eroticism and mysterious meaning. - ![](media/image19.jpeg) Utilizing symbols---often drawn from mythology, literature, and dreams---symbolist artists aimed to evoke deeper meanings and provoke introspection Hugo Simberg "The Wounded Angel" - - **Styles of modern Art** 1\. EXPRESSIONISM- Believe in the necessity of a spiritual rebirth. 2\. DADAISM- Playful and highly experimental. 3\. SURREALISM- Violent and cruel themes. 4\. REALISM- To portray subject as it is. 5\. IMPRESSIONISM- painting out of doors 6\. FAUVISM- Didn\'t attempt to express ethical. 7\. POINTILISM- application of tiny dots 8\. CUBISM- geometric shapes 9\. FUTURISM- capture the speed and force of modern industrial society. 10\. SYMBOLISM- often drawn from mythology, literature, and dreams 11\. ABSTRACT ART- encourages viewers to interpret the artwork subjectively. 12\. MANGLING- objects which are cut, lacerated, mutilated 13\. ELONGATION- being lengthened. 14\. DISTORTION- Any change made by an artist to the shape, size or visual character