Contemporary Art

Contemporary art is the work of artists that started from the years 1960-70’s up until the present time. It is a diverse and complex form of art that portrays our ever-changing society, cultures and beliefs. Consisting of various medium, techniques, ideas and themes, that opposes orthodox borders. There were no settled ways and no fixed approach, so artists experimented freely. Like 20^th Century Art, many artists wanted to break away from the traditional methods of the past. And that has resulted into the production of an art that the world has never seen before.  

During the 1960’s, optimism among artists began to fade, and it is this loss of optimism which marks the beginning of Postmodernism and the emergence of contemporary art. Post-modernists rejected the idea that art can provide meaning. If life is meaningless, they say, fine - let's not pretend that art can do better. Let's just accept that it's nonsense, like everything else, and get on with it. This new Post-Modernist philosophy thus triggered a whole new set of priorities, which were greatly facilitated by the coincident arrival of new technologies, like television, video, and computers.

Contemporary art movements focused on "how" art was created and disseminated, rather than "what" was produced. They emphasized ideas and concepts rather than precious objects and the skills needed to make them. In their attempt to popularize and broaden access to visual art, they introduced (or refined) a series of new art movements, such as Conceptualism, Performance, Happenings, Installation, Earthworks, Video art, Minimal art, Photo-Realist art, Supports-Surfaces, Contemporary Realism, Post-Minimalism, New Subjectivity, London School, Graffiti Aerosol Spray Painting, Transavanguardia, Neo-Expressionist Art, Britart, Neo-Pop, Stuckism, New Leipzig School.

Compared to the other previous eras, contemporary art is generally more socially conscious and philosophically inclusive of several styles and media than art of previous eras. Contemporary art is experimental and often includes hybrids of styles, as well as mixes of many diverse periods of art history from earliest times to the present. It is also inclined towards various subjects. This includes conceptual, political, social, feminism, multiculturalism, globalization, bioengineering, AIDS, etc. All in all, contemporary artists wanted to express themselves without being bounded by the rules set by past periods. They also desired to tackle different issues that the artists of the past were not able to.

As an artist, I can’t help but be engrossed about this certain era. At first, I expected it to be the same as Modern and 20^th Century art, as I saw a lot of similarities. Like how they broke free from the typical art styles from the past eras, and how they developed various art movements. However, I determined one thing that changed my perception of contemporary art. It’s how they responded to issues that were often avoided by preceding artists and generations. I admire them on how they were truly able to genuinely express themselves and their opinions with freedom. I believe that is the true essence of being an artist. Recently, as I have finished my Art History classes, I hope I would be able to apply everything that I have learned, and that someday in the future, I would also want to share my own views and opinions through my artworks. I also hope that art and artists will continue to improve and evolve as time passes.  

References:

Introduction to the Artistic Style of Contemporary Art. (n.d.). arthistory.net. Retrieved March 28, 2015, from http://www.arthistory.net/artstyles/contemporaryart/contemporaryart1.html

Contemporary art. (n.d.). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved March 28, 2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contemporary_art

Contemporary Art. (n.d.). Visual Arts Encyclopedia. Retrieved March 28, 2015, from http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/contemporary-art.htm

History of Modern Art. (n.d.). contemporary-art-dialogue.com. Retrieved March 29, 2015, from http://www.contemporary-art-dialogue.com/history-of-modern-art.html

Contemporary Art in Context. (n.d.).  art21.org. Retrieved March 29, 2015, from http://www.art21.org/teach/on-contemporary-art/contemporary-art-in-context

About Contemporary Art. (n.d.). getty.edu. Retrieved March 29, 2015, from http://www.getty.edu/education/teachers/classroom_resources/curricula/contemporary_art/background1.html

Image from:

stylewile.com

20th Century Art

20^th century art witnessed all the influential movements in the history of the arts. It brought forth new perspective and opportunities that gave rise to what we call “Modern art”. It was also the stage for some of the greatest modern artists in history. Beginning in the late 19^th century, artists started to experiment with subjects which create a more realistic reflection of their own inner visions. This inspired many artists to break away from tradition and previous methods. They focused on new artistic ideas and rejected conventional art techniques, opening a wide range of new forms and style.

The first movement of this period was Fauvism. Developed in France during the beginning of the 20^th century by Henri Matisse and André Derain, Fauvism is a style in which color ruled supreme. Artists who used this style were known as “'Les Fauves” or wild beasts in French. The name came from a sarcastic remark in a review by art critic Louis Vauxcelles. Les Fauves believed that color should be used at its highest degree to express the artist's feelings about a subject, rather than simply to describe what it looks like. They greatly admired Vincent van Gogh, who describes his own work: “Instead of trying to render what I see before me, I use color in a completely arbitrary way to express myself powerfully”. They carried this idea further by expressing their feelings into color with a rough, almost clumsy style. Fauvist paintings feature two main aspects: extremely simplified drawing and intensely exaggerated color.

In the north of Europe, Fauvism was pushed to a new emotional and psychological depth. This became known as Expressionism. Emerged in Germany in the early decades of the 20^th century, Expressionism is a style of art that is charged with an emotional or spiritual vision of the world. It was characterized by heightened, symbolic colors and exaggerated imagery that tended to dwell on the darker, sinister aspects of the human psyche. The term “Expressionism” is used to describe any form of art that raises subjective feelings above objective observations. The purpose is to project the artists’ state of mind rather than the reality of the external world.

The most famous groups of Expressionists were the Die Brücke and Der Blaue Reiter. Die Brücke (The Bridge) was an artistic community of young artists in Dresden who aimed to overthrow the old-fashioned traditions of German art. The founding members include Fritz Bleyl, Erich Heckel, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Karl Schmidt-Rottluff. Der Blaue Reiter (the Blue Rider) was a group of artists whose publications and exhibitions sought to find a common creative ground between the various Expressionist art forms. Its founding members were Wassily Kandinsky, Alexej von Jawlensky, Marianne von Werefkin, Franz Marc, August Macke and Gabriele Münter.

As they began exhibiting their work to the public, Der Blaue Reiter also paved the way towards “abstraction” and its stand for free experimentation and originality. Wassily Kandinsky, the most influential member of the group often credited with the distinction of painting the first “abstract” picture, was convinced by the emotional properties of shape, line and above all, color in painting. The use of color and shape to move the observer was paramount in the development of abstract art. The word 'abstract' means to withdraw part of something in order to consider it separately. Abstract art or non-objective art, is art in which little or no attempt is made to objectively replicate or illustrate the appearances or forms of objects in the realm of nature or the existing physical world.

    

Considered as the most influential art movement in the 20^th century, Cubism transformed European painting and sculpture and inspired related movements in music, literature and architecture. Cubism was invented around 1907 in Paris by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. The French art critic Louis Vauxcelles coined the term “Cubism” after seeing the landscapes Braque had painted in 1908 at L'Estaque in emulation of Cézanne. Vauxcelles called the geometric forms in the highly abstracted works "cubes". The Cubist style disregards the tradition of perspective drawing and instead, demonstrates the many views of a subject at a single time. Cubist painters present a new reality in paintings that illustrates radically fragmented objects, whose several sides were showing different aspects of the object simultaneously.

Another revolutionary movement in the history of art was Futurism. Futurism celebrated modernity and emphasized the dynamism, speed, energy, and power of the machine as well as the vitality, change, and restlessness of modern life in general. The name “Futurism” was coined by the Italian poet and editor, Filippo Tommaso Marinetti. He emphasized on the discarding of what he conceived to be the static and irrelevant art of the past and the celebration of change, originality, and innovation in culture and society. Futurism was introduced on the Paris newspaper Le Figaro, as they published a manifesto by Marinetti. His manifesto glorified the new technology of the automobile and the beauty of its speed, power, and movement. The manifesto’s rhetoric was quite impactful, with its aggressive and provoking tone. It was intended to incite public anger and astonishment, to trigger controversy and attract widespread attention.

The first major anti-art movement, called Dada or Dadaism, also belonged to the 20^th century. It was a revolt against the culture and values that were believed to had caused and supported the carnage of The First World War. Dada was an informal international movement, with participants from both Europe and North America. Key figures included Hugo Ball, Emmy Hennings, Hans Arp, Raoul Hausmann, Hannah Höch, Johannes Baader, Tristan Tzara, Francis Picabia, Richard Huelsenbeck, George Grosz, John Heartfield, Marcel Duchamp, Beatrice Wood, Kurt Schwitters, Hans Richter, and Max Ernst. The name “Dada” was coined in Zurich in 1916. The word was randomly selected from the German-French dictionary by poet Richard Huelsenbeck and painter-musician Hugo Ball.

According to Hans Richter, Dada was "anti-art” because it was the opposite of everything that art stood for. If art was concerned with traditional aesthetics and appeal to sensibilities, Dada ignored aesthetics and was intended to offend. As an anti-art group, Dada used outrageous strategies to assault the established traditions of art through an onslaught of demonstrations, manifestos, and displays of absurdist art, intended to outrage and shock both the authorities and the general public. Ironically, despite its nihilistic mission, Dadaism prompted the rise and refinement of several important changes in the fine arts, including collage and photo- montage, and later, affected other modern art developments like Surrealism, Pop-Art and contemporary workmanship styles.

Overall, I can say that I am quite enthralled with the innovation and vision brought upon by the artists and their artworks. I admire how they broke free from the typical art styles from the past eras, and instead, developed a myriad amount of advanced art movements that initiated a revolution throughout the world of art. I am also immensely influenced and inspired by the rebellious nature of this era, as I believe that art is a freedom of expression. In the future, I desire to create my own art style that would have the same independence and distinctive qualities found in this period. I am also hoping that fellow artists would also realize and be inspired by the brilliance of this generation.

References:

20th-century art. (n.d.). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved March 23, 2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th-century_art

ARTISTS, MOVEMENTS AND STYLES IN MODERN ART. (n.d.). artyfactory.com. Retrieved March 23, 2015, from http://www.artyfactory.com/art_appreciation/timelines/modern_art_timeline.htm

20th Century Painters. (n.d.). Visual Arts Encyclopedia. Retrieved March 23, 2015, from http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/history-of-art/twentieth-century-painters.htm

Modern art. (n.d.). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved March 23, 2015, from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/387137/modern-art

The 20th century. (n.d.). ibiblio.org. Retrieved March 25, 2015, from http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/tl/20th/

Fauvism. (n.d.). ibiblio.org. Retrieved March 25, 2015, from http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/tl/20th/fauvism.html

Expressionism. (n.d.). ibiblio.org. Retrieved March 25, 2015, from http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/tl/20th/expressionism.html

Towards Abstraction. (n.d.). ibiblio.org. Retrieved March 25, 2015, from http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/tl/20th/abstract.html

Cubism. (n.d.).  ibiblio.org. Retrieved March 25, 2015, from http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/glo/cubism/

Picasso and Cubism. (n.d.). ibiblio.org. Retrieved March 25, 2015, from http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/tl/20th/cubism.html

The Age of Machinery. (n.d.). ibiblio.org. Retrieved March 25, 2015, from http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/tl/20th/machinery.html

Futurism. (n.d.). ibiblio.org. Retrieved March 25, 2015, from http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/glo/futurism/

Abstract Art. (n.d.). Visual Arts Encyclopedia. Retrieved March 26, 2015, from http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/abstract-art.htm#history

Rewald, S. (n.d.). Cubism. metmuseum.org. Retrieved March 26, 2015, from https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/cube/hd_cube.htm

Die Brücke. (n.d.). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved March 26, 2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_Brücke

Der Blaue Reiter. (n.d.). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved March 26, 2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Der_Blaue_Reiter

Cubism. (n.d.). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved March 26, 2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cubism

Dada. (n.d.). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved March 26, 2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dada

Dada Movement. (n.d.). Visual Arts Encyclopedia. Retrieved March 26, 2015, from http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/history-of-art/dada.htm

Images from:

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Modern Art

Modern art started at a time when artists were eager for a change and sought new forms of artistic expressions.  Its birth can be traced back during the late 18^th century up to the 19^th century in which traditions of the past have been thrown aside in an effort to create an art that were more appropriate to modern life. Modern art is the creative world’s response to the rapid social transformation wrought by the industrial revolution in Western Europe, triggering the emergence of new ideas in all areas including the fine arts. The artists experimented with new materials, new techniques of painting, and expressed their views of the world around them according to their own unique perspective.

A wide variety of movements and schools arose to become the core of modern art. These movements are groupings of artists categorized according to their specific objective and artistic style. However, this simple approach of classifying individuals into units of like-minded and historically connected artists is not always accurate or appropriate, as many movements or schools consist of widely diverse artists and modes of artistic representation. Furthermore, some artists do not fit into any particular movement or category. The imperfect designation of movements allows the vast history of modern art to be broken down into smaller segments separated by contextual factors that aid in examining the individual artists and works.  The modern era encompasses ground-breaking movements like Art Nouveau, Cubism, Expressionism, Dada, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism and Pop-Art, as well as a host of smaller schools like Pointillism, Der Blaue Reiter, Die Brucke, Bauhaus, Orphism, Social Realism, Futurism, De Stijl, Op-Art, Hard Edge Painting and Feminist art, to name a few.

Progression in the visual arts occurred centuries prior to the modern era. However, one common characteristic seen during these early modern eras was an idealization of the subject matter. Artists did not derive from their subjective perspective, but rather on what they visualized as the epitome of their subject. Although, during the early decades of the 19^th century, artists across the continent were split on how they created their artworks. While some artists portray people and situations objectively, with imperfections and all, others focused on emphasizing the visual sensation of their observed subjects instead of an accurate and naturalistic depiction. This practice represented the beginnings of abstraction in the visual arts.

Most of the successful and creative modern artists were “avant-gardes”, which is French for “vanguard”. To put it simply, being avant-garde involves exploring new artistic methods or experimenting with new techniques in order to produce better art, and to continually challenge the established common artistic form for the sake of conveying the artists’ experience of modern life. Modern artists were also introduced to a new style called Pictorialism, an approach to photography that emphasizes beauty of the subject matter, tonality, and composition rather than the documentation of reality. As technology further developed, photography became increasingly accessible to the general public. This posed a serious threat to classical artistic modes, as sculpture and even painting, could not capture the same degree of detail as photography. Due to this, artists were obliged to find new methods of expression which led to new paradigms in art.

References:

Modern art. (n.d.). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved March 20, 2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_art

Modern art. (n.d.). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved March 20, 2015, from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/387137/modern-art

Modern Art. (n.d.). Visual Arts Encyclopedia. Retrieved March 20, 2015, from http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/modern-art.htm

Wolf, J. (n.d.). Modern art. theartstory.org. Retrieved March 21, 2015, from http://www.theartstory.org/definition-modern-art.htm

Esaak, S. (n.d.). What Is Modern Art?. arthistory.about.com. Retrieved March 21, 2015, from http://arthistory.about.com/od/modernart/f/what_is.-Eoj.htm

Avant-Garde Art. (n.d.). Visual Arts Encyclopedia. Retrieved March 22, 2015, from http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/definitions/avant-garde-art.htm

Pictorialism. (n.d.). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved March 22, 2015, from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/752375/Pictorialism

Image from:

en.wikipedia.org

Art Beyond The West

Any art objects originating from the cultures and societies outside of the western world is referred to as non-western art. Cultures of Europe and the arts utilizing European aesthetics comprise the Western art. Although the arts of colonized areas such as the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada are considered the West, the arts from the native people of these countries are categorized as non-Western art. Though non-Western art traditionally refers to art created in the non-Western world, its definition has become more flexible due to the modern mobility of artists.

 

Like all other art movements, non-Western art has distinct periods. Japanese art originate with patterns on earthenware until around 300 B.C. When Buddhism was introduced on 550 AD., Japan’s architecture was also greatly influenced. Much later, the popularity of the tea ceremony resulted in highly decorated ceramics. Culture plays a vital role in bringing out the art of each country through its food, language, social customs, music, literature and geographic location. Family and society are the main focus of most non-Western art, and is often seen as communal. Western art is more self-expressive in nature because it places primary importance on the individual.

In non-Western cultures, art is an integral part of the people’s lives used every day, in the household and for spiritual rituals. Non-Western cultures created art that was also admired and kept in special places for protection such as places of worship and palaces. In recent centuries, Western cultures also followed this tradition and built art museums where many people can see and appreciate great art from the past and present. For us to understand more and gain knowledge about non-Western art, we have to learn many of the world’s great religions, secular philosophies and traditions and how the artists in each culture blend their unique spiritual beliefs and social values in their artworks.

There are three geographical categories in non-Western art: African art, Asian art and Islamic art. In many African cultures, art is an essential part of initiation rituals, planting prayers, harvest festivals, divination ceremonies and funerals. These artworks, which are used in everyday and ceremonial settings, address individual and community needs and serve social, religious and political purposes. The arts of Asia often include commissioned portraits of emperors and empresses, and even gods and deities. Images from Hinduism and Buddhism, as well as pagan and animist deities are found in countries such as China, Korea, India, Nepal, Japan, Tibet and Thailand. Arabesques and geometric tile designs are just some of the artistic expressions common in Islamic art.                

The differences between Western and non-Western art are numerous in terms of techniques and mediums used. Traditional Chinese, Korean and Japanese paintings are done on rice paper while Western paintings are created on canvass. The plastic arts in Western society often focus on sculpture usually made of stone and metal. In Africa, Asia, South America and the Middle East, bead-work, textiles and woodwork are the important mediums used by the local artists. There are also aesthetic differences like in the Western art; realistic depiction of the human body is an important factor in artworks for centuries. In non-Western art, Asian and African artists painted and sculpted human shapes freely while Islamic art and architecture is abstract and much of the artistic design is focused around the language. The use of color is also a focal point in Western art, but in China and Japan, using simple black ink in calligraphy is considered high art.

The arts in the non-Western world continue to evolve and develop at the same time that contemporary arts do in the West. Societies with ancient roots are applying new techniques and mediums in their artworks, merging it with their traditional arts. In some colonized areas, the fusion of European or other influences are more prominent than others in the arts and aesthetics. Latin America arts often feature a strong Spanish influence, though in some areas, a significant African influence is noticeable. Quilting in Hawaii uses Western fundamentals of sewing techniques but features traditional Hawaiian design.

I consider non-western art as an enigma because its art style is diverse and mystical. I still haven’t fully understood this particular art period but it continues to fascinate me. I cannot also help but be curious and astonished by the different techniques and medium used because at the same time, I was able to experience a world of various cultures steeped in ancient traditions. Someday, I want to create artworks that would bring cultural significance not only to the world of art, but also through history. I also hope that more people would be aware and influenced by non-Western art.

References:

Rindsberg, H. (n.d.). Major Cultures Of Non-Western Art. helenrindsberg.myiglou.com. Retrieved March 14, 2015, from http://helenrindsberg.myiglou.com/NonWesternArt/Documents/NWArt_MajorCultures.pdf

Ludwig, P. (n.d.). What is Non-Western Art. ehow.com. Retrieved March 14, 2015, from http://www.ehow.com/about_6802272_non_western-art_.html

Zaremba, J. (n.d.). What is non-Western art. answerbag.com. Retrieved March 15, 2015, from http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/1953940

Fullen, M. (n.d.). Several Ways in Which Western & Non-Western Art Differ. ehow.com. Retrieved March 15, 2015, from http://www.ehow.com/info_8479986_several-western-nonwestern-art-differ.html

Images from: 

onlineonly.christies.com

ehow.com

Baroque Art

During the last decades of the 16^th century, a new artistic style known as the Baroque emerged using exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, fervor, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, architecture, literature and music. It started in Italy and spread to other areas in Europe and the world, after the idealism of the Renaissance period (c.1400-1530) and the witty, intellectual qualities of the Mannerism period (c.1530-1600). The word Baroque originated from the Portuguese word “barocco” (Spanish barrueco) or French “baroque” which indicate an irregular, imperfectly shaped pearl. In informal usage, the word baroque can simply mean something is “elaborate” and with many details.

The Baroque period reflected religious tensions which had begun in the Renaissance between the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter Reformation that continued until the 17th century.  Following the declaration made by the Council of Trent on how art might serve religion and coinciding with the upsurge in confidence in the Roman Catholic Church, it became apparent that a new style of Biblical art was necessary to support the Catholic Counter Reformation. This style had to be more forceful, more emotional and would instill a greater realism. The Baroque art was paradoxically both sensuous and spiritual while the use of naturalistic treatment in the religious images makes them more accessible to the average churchgoer. The dramatic and illusory effects also used, stimulate piety and devotion and convey an impression of the splendor of the divine.

The success of the Baroque style grew because of the encouragement of the Catholic Church.  However, it soon became popular at royal courts, where it symbolized the emerging power of the new monarchies. The aristocracy saw the dramatic style of Baroque architecture and art as a means of impressing visitors and expressing triumph, power and control. Many Catholic emperors and monarchs across Europe had an important stake in the Catholic Church's success; hence a large number of architectural designs, paintings and sculptures were commissioned by the Royal Courts of Spain, France and elsewhere. Corresponding to the overall campaign of Catholic Christian art, as pursued by the Vatican, the Baroque style of art helped glorify their own divine grandeur and in the process, strengthen their political position.

Baroque painting demonstrated key elements of Catholic dogma, either directly in Biblical works or indirectly in mythological or allegorical compositions. Along with this monumental approach, painters illustrated a strong sense of movement, using swirling spirals and upward diagonals, and strong sumptuous color schemes, in order to dazzle and surprise. Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610) was one of the true master painters.  Caravaggio, as he was known, painted a number of large canvases that depicted religious subjects from the New Testament. His painting, “The Calling of St. Matthew”, which might be Caravaggio’s greatest work of art, showed real mastery in the use of lighting effect. A bright light comes from the background and shines on Matthew. The lighting gives the painting drama and emotion. Movement is shown in the pointing of Jesus’ hand, calling St. Matthew to follow him as well as the turning of the men at the table towards Jesus.

Baroque architecture was designed to create spectacle and illusion. The straight lines of the Renaissance were replaced with flowing curves and domes or roofs were enlarged, and interiors carefully constructed to produce spectacular effects of light and shade as illustrated by St. Peter’s Square (1656-1667) in Rome, leading up to St. Peter’s Basilica. Its designer, Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680), one of the greatest Baroque architects, surrounded the square with colonnades to convey the impression to visitors that they are being embraced by the arms of the Catholic Church.

               

Baroque sculpture, which is typically larger-than-life size, is marked by a similar sense of dynamic movement, along with an active use of space. It often had multiple ideal viewing angles. The characteristic Baroque sculpture added extra-sculptural elements like concealed lighting or water fountains. Aleijadinho or Antônio Francisco Lisboa of Brazil was also one of the great names of Baroque sculpture and his masterpiece is the set of statues of the Santuário de Bom Jesus de Matosinhos in Congonhas.

The Baroque period is very rich and diverse. All of the art produced during these years cannot be described by a single term. The Baroque introduced a new dynamic, theatrical quality to its arts while continuing the classicism of the Renaissance. It has served as an inspiration not only to tourists and artists but throughout the Western world. Personally, I’m not really familiar with Baroque art, but upon learning about it in my Art History classes, I became intrigued, especially by its bizarre and unorthodox style. For me, it is the most unique and distinct among other art forms. Someday, I want to create artworks that would be as distinctive and exceptional like those in this period. I also hope that more artists become aware and influenced by Baroque art.

References:

Baroque Art. (n.d.). Visual Arts Encyclopedia. Retrieved February 28, 2015, from http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/history-of-art/baroque.htm

Baroque. (n.d.). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved February 28, 2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baroque

Baroque Art. (n.d.). Ducksters. Retrieved February 28, 2015, from http://www.ducksters.com/history/art/baroque_art.php

Baroque Art. (n.d.). loki.stockton.edu.  Retrieved March 1, 2015, from http://loki.stockton.edu/~fergusoc/lesson7/lect7.htm

Baroque art and architecture. (2015). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved March 1, 2015, from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/53809/Baroque-art-and-architecture

Baroque. (n.d.). artinthepicture.com. Retrieved March 1, 2015, from http://www.artinthepicture.com/styles/Baroque

Guisepi, R. A. (n.d.). The Baroque Era In The Arts.  International World History Project . Retrieved March 2, 2015, from http://history-world.org/baroque_era.htm

Baroque. (n.d.). ruf.rice.edu. Retrieved March 2, 2015, from http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~fellows/hart206/baroque.htm

Varriano, J. (n.d.). Baroque. Scholastic. Baroque. Retrieved March 2, 2015, from http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3753922

Sorabella, J. (2003, October). Baroque Rome. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved March 3, 2015, from http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/baro/hd_baro.htm

Image from:

Ducksters.com

Renaissance Art

The word “Renaissance” literally means “rebirth” or “born anew” in French. The name came about as a result of La Renaissance – a famous volume of history written by historian Jules Michelet (1798-1874). The Renaissance is considered the bridge between the Middle Ages and Modern history, the era that spans from the 14^th to the 17^th century. Starting as a cultural movement in Italy in the late medieval period and which spread to the rest of Europe, the Renaissance boasts of a period full of great creative and intellectual activities. The scholars and artists began investigating what they believe to be a revival of classical learning, literature and art.

During the Renaissance period, artists wanted to capture the experience of the individual as well as the beauty and mystery of the natural world. New ideas and attitudes were markedly portrayed in art. Various elements were studied to help enhance and improve the quality and humanism of art such as perspective, balance and proportion, the use of light and dark and many more. The artists of the Renaissance era strove to portray lifelike human forms with correct proportions and realistic clothing and expressions. They also developed new techniques that give paintings a lifelike quality and a three-dimensional effect. To better understand their subjects, the artists exerted efforts to study in detail the human and animal anatomy.

Renaissance art is divided into two periods: the Early Renaissance and the High Renaissance. During the Early Renaissance, artists tried to emulate classical artists by focusing on symmetry and develop the flawless form. This era featured artists such as Giotto, Masaccio and Donatello. Giotto di Bondone was the first important painter of the Early Renaissance. Giotto profoundly studied nature to instill reality within his paintings, an effort most remarkable in his particularly realistic facial expressions. His innovations in the depiction of perspectives were later further developed by another painter named Tommaso Guidi, also known as Masaccio. Masaccio was the first Renaissance artist to paint models in the nude by using both light and shadow to define the shape of his models instead of using clear lines. Another great artist from this age was Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi or better known as Donatello. He was regarded as the greatest sculptor of the Early Renaissance and the most significant individual artist of the 15th century in Italy.

The increasing interest in perspective and space was established during the High Renaissance, which gave art even more realism. Artists including Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Rafael dominated this period. Leonardo da Vinci was dubbed the ultimate “Renaissance man” for his intellect, interest, talent and his expression of classical and humanist values. He was a scientist, an inventor as well as an artist. Like Leonardo, Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni or Michelangelo, was a “Renaissance man” of many talents. He was a sculptor, a painter and an architect. He drew on the human body for inspiration and created works on a vast scale. The youngest of the three great High Renaissance masters, Raphael Sanzio, learned from both da Vinci and Michelangelo. His paintings skillfully expressed the classical ideas of beauty, serenity and harmony.

The most notable thing about the art of the Renaissance is the continuous evolution of techniques and materials. Each new generation of artists build upon the accomplishments of the last. While technique, style, and materials stayed relatively constant throughout much of the Middle Ages, the Renaissance was an age of rapid change and development. This rapid evolution and the continuing advance of artistic techniques and talent was one of the main reasons why the Renaissance still represent the highest of achievements in the history of art.

In my own opinion, Renaissance art is the prime era in which the artists and their artworks have substantially grown and evolved. I consider this era to be the “finest” compared to the previous ones as it showcases unparalleled use of technique and incomparable quality of art. Also, some of my favorite artists came from this period like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo Buonarroti. I admire their mastery of diverse skills that initiated a huge impact throughout history. Someday, I want to create artworks that would also bring significance to the world of art with the same excellence and vision from the Renaissance. 

References:

Esaak, S. (n.d.). The Renaissance. arthistory.about.com. Retrieved February 20, 2015, from http://arthistory.about.com/cs/arthistory10one/a/gen_ren.htm

Italian Renaissance Art. (n.d.). Visual Arts Encyclopedia. Retrieved February 20, 2015, from http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/renaissance-art.htm

The Renaissance. (n.d.). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved February 20, 2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Renaissance

Artists by Movement: The Early Renaissance. (n.d.). Artcyclopedia. Retrieved February 20, 2015, from http://www.artcyclopedia.com/history/early-renaissance.html

Renaissance Art and Architecture. (n.d.). oxfordartonline.com. Retrieved February 20, 2015, from http://www.oxfordartonline.com/public/page/themes/renaissanceartandarchitecture

Renaissance Art. (n.d.). history.com. Retrieved February 21, 2015, from http://www.history.com/topics/renaissance-art

History: Renaissance Art for Kids. (n.d.). Ducksters. Retrieved February 21, 2015, from http://www.ducksters.com/history/renaissance_art.php

Art in the Early Renaissance. (n.d.). SparkNotes. Retrieved February 21, 2015, from http://www.sparknotes.com/history/european/renaissance1/section6.rhtml

Renaissance art. (2014, November 6). Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved February 21, 2015, from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/497788/Renaissance-art

Dowling, M. (2014, December 30). Renaissance Art. mrdowling.com. Retrieved February 22, 2015, from http://www.mrdowling.com/704-art.html

Donatello. (n.d.). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved February 22, 2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donatello

Donatello Biography. (n.d.). Encyclopedia of World Biography. Retrieved February 22, 2015, from http://www.notablebiographies.com/De-Du/Donatello.html


Images from:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Creation_of_Adam

Christian Art

Christianity is the religion based on the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. His followers are called “Christians”. Christianity emerged in the Levant (now Palestine and Israel) during the mid-1st century AD. It has spread to different places, from the Eastern Mediterranean throughout the Roman Empire and beyond. Since then, it has made a huge impact, especially in the history of Western art.  It has also influenced language, politics, law, family life, calendar dates, music and art.

A few centuries after the death of Jesus, Christians were presented with few opportunities for artistic and architectural expression. Christianity was considered illegal and was often oppressed by the Roman Empire. However, this all changed when a Roman soldier named Constantine became the Roman emperor. During his reign as the emperor, he recognized all existing religions including Christianity. He also began the legalization of Christianity. Afterwards, Christians were given the freedom to experiment with their own distinctive forms of art. They further developed their style and this has led Christian art to be more monumental and iconic in aspect.   

In my experiences, I have always been intrigued by Christian art. I remember seeing the stained glass window in our local church when I was young. It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen in my whole life. I was so astounded, that I decided to recreate it in one of my paintings. I’m also amazed by their architecture. I have seen lots of architecture from different periods but I consider Christian architecture as my favorite. It gives me a feeling that I can’t quite explain. It exudes elegance, purity, and mysteriousness. I always try my best to capture these traits when creating my artworks. I hope more artists become aware and influenced by Christian art.

References:

Christianity. (n.d.).  patheos.com . Retrieved January 25, 2015 from http://www.patheos.com/Library/Christianity.html

History of Christianity. (n.d.). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved January 25, 2015 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Christianity

Early centers of Christianity. (n.d.). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved January 25, 2015 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_centers_of_Christianity

What is the history of Christianity? (n.d.). gotquestions.org. Retrieved January 25, 2015 from http://www.gotquestions.org/history-Christianity.html

Christian art. (n.d.). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved January 25, 2015 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_art

Pfingsten, M. (n.d.). Early Christian art and architecture. education-portal.com. Retrieved January 25, 2015 from http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/early-christian-art-and-architecture.html

Constantine the Great and Christianity. (n.d.). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved January 25, 2015 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_the_Great_and_Christianity

Early Christian art and architecture. (n.d.). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved January 25, 2015 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Christian_art_and_architecture

Christian art. (n.d.). visual-arts-cork.com. Retrieved January 25, 2015 from http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/christian-art.htm

Images:

cambridge.tab.co.uk

romedriver.com

bizlocallistings.com

How can I relate classical art to my own art?

Art history has always been a fascinating subject. Reading about it and studying the many forms of art, one can gain knowledge of how modern art emerged from the influences of the classical art period. Art now is no longer confined to historical architectures or various artworks in museums but has expanded into different fields such as music, dance and literature. However, these modern forms of art would not be possible if it weren’t for the artistic legacy of Greece and Rome. The art that they passed down inspired many modern artists with their specific genre of philosophy that gives emphasis on society.

 The art of the ancient Greeks and Romans comprise what is called classical art. The term was also used during the later periods in which artists searched for inspiration from this ancient style for their craft. The Classical period of Ancient Greece, spans most of the 5^th and 4^th century BC. Greek artists of this era were able to portray the vitality of life as well as a sense of stability, clarity, and harmony in their works. In 146 BC, Rome was conquered by Greece. During this time, the Greek art was intermixed with that of Rome. Though most of the Romans’ art were borrowed, the art forms demonstrated their passion and dominating spirit especially in the area of architecture.

My brother introduced me to Greek and Roman mythology when I was 10 years old. I became really interested and amazed by their architecture. I often wondered how they were able to construct those magnificent structures during those early times. Ever since then, my artistic style was further influenced by classical art. I admired the Greeks for their extensive attention to detail as well as their idealistic preferences. The Parthenon is definitely one of my favorite. I commend the Romans for their practicality and focus on realism. An example of that would be the Coliseum. One day, I hope to create my own style that both balances idealism and practicality of the classical period. I also look forward to how classical art would influence artists of the future generations.

Classicism. (n.d.). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved January 19, 2015 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classicism

Classical Greece. (n.d.). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved January 19, 2015 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_Greece

Roman art. (n.d.). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved January 19, 2015 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_art

Various Authors. (n.d.). GREEK AND ROMAN ART. history-world.org. Retrieved January 19, 2015 from http://history-world.org/arthist.htm

Classical Art History. (n.d.). artapprenticeonline.com. Retrieved January 19, 2015 from http://www.artapprenticeonline.com/artstudies/apprentart/edacclhistory.html

Freeman, G. (2011, July 8). Classical Art: Greece and Rome. slideshare.net. Retrieved January 19, 2015 from http://www.slideshare.net/gwfreeman/classical-art

Hemingway, C., & Hemingway, S. (n.d.). The Art of Classical Greece (ca. 480–323 B.C.) . metmuseum.org. Retrieved January 19, 2015 from http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/tacg/hd_tacg.htm

Images from:
knox.libguides.com
thinglink.com
oneonta.edu

Ancient Art

Since the dawn of mankind, art has always been part of history. Art history is a chronological sequence of different types of art ranging from the prehistoric times to the current twenty-first century. The earliest forms of art (that was found) were from the Stone Age. Time progressed and the early people started building civilizations. This paved the way to the evolution of art known as Ancient Art. According to some, Ancient Art dated back to 3000 B.C.E. up to 400 C.E., from the ancient civilizations such as those of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, Israel, Persia, India, Greece and Rome. These civilizations contributed many art treasures that helped shape various form of art for the future generations.

The emergence of these early civilizations, along with the use of written languages and the development of more sophisticated tools, led to the creation of countless historical arts. Ancient Egyptian art forms for example, are represented by consistent and detailed illustrations of gods, people, heroic battles and nature. Also, most of their surviving works of art were designed to provide consolation and service to the departed in the afterlife. Mesopotamia is often referred to as the cradle of civilization due to being the first area where complex society developed. Mesopotamia brought significant cultural developments, including the oldest examples of writing. The art of Mesopotamia rivalled that of Ancient Egypt as the most grand, sophisticated and elaborate in western Eurasia. Their art was centered on various, very durable, forms of sculpture in stone and clay. Chinese art is based from Chinese heritage and culture. Chinese art has arguably the oldest continuous tradition in the world. However, there were also big changes in Chinese art. For example, when Chinese people learned about Buddhism, under the Han Dynasty, they also discovered about Buddhist art styles in India, and Chinese sculptors learned to make life-size stone statues. Other ancient societies like Greece and Rome were also renowned for their art that includes pottery, sculpture as well as architecture.

Art will continue to change as time passes, which is why it is important for us to learn from the arts of our ancestors so we can develop our own aesthetic interpretations. Every one of us has their own individual perspective of what is appealing. We classified art based on what we saw from past artistic creations in terms of the design elements such as color, texture, shape and value. We also made comparisons and contrasts between different artists and their contributions to further improve our knowledge about art. By having explored the rich and fascinating history of ancient arts, we discovered millennia of wonderful compilation of human experience. I’m looking forward to what the future will bring into the world of art.

References:

Ancient Art. (n.d.). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved January 3, 2015 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_art

Art of Ancient Egypt. (n.d.). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved January 3, 2015 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_ancient_Egypt

Art of Mesopotamia. (n.d.). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved January 3, 2015 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_of_Mesopotamia

Chinese Art. (n.d.). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved January 3, 2015 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_art

Chinese Art History. (n.d.). Historyforkids.org. Retrieved January 3, 2015 from http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/china/art

Art History Appreciation. (n.d.). Arthistory.net. Retrieved January 3, 2015 from http://www.arthistory.net/

Ancient Art. (n.d.). Visual-arts-cork.com. Retrieved January 3, 2015 from http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/ancient-art.htm

Images from:

Google Images