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Period: 25,000 BCE to 10,000 BCE
Paleolithic Era
The prehistoric period characterized by the development of stone tools. -
Period: 8000 BCE to 2000 BCE
Neolithic era
Characterized by the beginnings of agriculture and the development of pottery, weaving, and polished stone tools. -
220
Block Wood Type
earliest found example of block wood type -
Period: 470 to 1400
The Middle Ages
During this time period, there was a shift away from the arts and toward labor and self sufficiency which caused education and literacy to decline. -
1100
The codex
The codex was invented in 1100 -
1200
Easter Island
The mystery of Easter Island and the ominous statues inhibiting this land mass has intrigued scientists for years. In 1722, Dutch explorers discovered this island - the first people to set foot on this island since the Polynesian civilization who had originally inhabited this land. It was believed that this civilization inhabited this island as early as 800A.D., however, new evidence has led scientists to believe the Polynesians didn't arrive until 1200A.D. -
1285
Duccio's The Madonna and Child
An early example of the misunderstanding of perspective in the middle ages -
1314
Giotto's The Madonna and Child
An example of when Perspective was beginning to be understood by artist at the start of the renaissance -
1323
King Tut
The sarcophagus of King Tut was found in 1323 and the tomb was believed to strengthen the spirit of the mummy -
1377
Movable Type
Jikji invents the first movable type in Korea -
Period: 1400 to
Italian Renaissance
This period is characterized by the revival of interest in the arts and classical learning. Renaissance art aimed to encompass the beauty of the natural world and capture individual experience. -
1415
Perspective Created
Brunelleschi creates perspective. -
1425
Masaccio's Holy Trinity
An example of one of the earliest successful uses of perspective -
1434
Jan Van Eyck's Wedding Portrait
A painting rich with symbolism and technical successes ahead of it's time. Looking closely, one can see the intense and seemingly accurate portrayal of the reflection in the mirror. -
1440
The printing press is invented
Johannes Gutenberg invents the printing press. -
1538
Titian's Venus of Urbino
A painting of a sexualized female figure with disproportional features. -
Michelangelo's Pieta
An example of the tenderness between the mother and child relationship. -
Period: to
Baroque period
Art movement focusing on extravagant and elaborate details and form. -
Peter Paul Rubens' Abduction of the Daughters of Leucippus
This piece is a depiction of Ruben's culture's views on femininity and masculinity. -
Johannes Vermeer's The Milkmaid
This painting puts the life of the lower class dutch maid at the center of attention at a time when mainly the lives of the rich and wealthy where portrayed. -
The color wheel
Sir Issac Newton comes up with the idea of the color wheel. -
The Palace of Versailles
Built by King Louis the 14th and used as symbol to reinforce is massive power. -
Pompeii is rediscovered
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Giovanni Battista Piranesi's Prison
This piece depicts the "dark" side of the human mind. -
Jacques Louis David's The Death of Marat
David paints the death of his friend and revolutionary immediately after its occurrence. -
Dominique Ingres's La Grande Odalisque
Venus is shown as a prostitute shying away from the viewer but still intended for the male gaze. -
First ever photograph
Joseph Nicéphore Niépce takes the first ever photograph over several days. -
Boulevard du Temple
The first photograph ever taken of a human being. -
Edouard Manet's Olympia
The women in the painting has full control over sexuality which was never displayed before. -
James McNeill Whistler's Arrangement in Grey and Black
A painting that shows the respect for the mother but also the fear. -
L'inconnue de la Sine
The face of a young dead girl was found to be so peaceful that it became popular to have a cast of her face. -
Period: to
Modernism
The popular rejection of history and conservative values. -
Period: to
The Arts and Crafts Movement
Work was focused on traditional craftsmanship was valued in the industrial rise. -
Paul Cezanne's Self Portrait
A self portrait of the father of impressionism -
Period: to
Art Nouveau
works where inspired by nature and use abstract curved forms -
Henry Ossawa Tanner's The Banjo Lesson
With this piece tanner became the first black artist to receive any recognition in his lifetime. -
Duchamp's The Foutain
When reject for his paintings, Duchamp changes the meaning of art by presenting is readymade his fountain. -
Period: to
Art Deco
A movement where people were excited for the future and the art conveyed luxury and glamor. -
Georgia O’Keeffe’s Grey Line with Lavender and Yellow
This image is pulled from the natural forms of flowers, yet implies the form of female genitalia. -
Sergei M. Eisenstein's The Battleship Potemkin
This film was commissioned to depict the collective heroism of the Soviet people following the Russian revolution of 1917. -
Constantin Brancusi's Bird in Space
Brancusi creates a minimalist sculpture that is not well received by the public -
Meret Oppenheim's Object
A fur-covered cup, saucer, and spoon.
This piece is intriguing in that it entirely changes the viewer's perception of the object, as it is attractive and pleasing to the touch, yet imagining drinking from wet fur evokes a feeling of discomfort and perhaps disgust. -
David Alfaro Siqueiros' Echo of a Scream
This painting depicts a suffering child among war debris as a reaction to the Spanish Civil War. -
Albert Speer's Haus of de Knunt
One of the only remaining buildings that was built by Hitlers architect. -
Frida Kahlo's Self-Portrait with Monkey
As in a vast amount of her work, Frida paints imagery and symbols that represent her personal history and Mexican history. In this piece she paints herself with a monkey, surrounded by tropical foliage. -
Frida Kahlo's the Two Fridas
Kahlo conveys how she is stuck between her european and Mexican heritage by reinforcing her female image. -
Period: to
Postmodernism
A reaction against modernism questioning the certainty modernists believed in. Exploits subjectivity, ambiguity, and philosophical questions. -
Salvador Dali's The Crucifixion
The forth dimension was beginning to be thought about. -
Andy Warhol's Heinz Tomato Ketchup Box
A wooden replica based on the cardboard original it's based upon. This was included in The American Supermarket exhibition at the Bianchini Gallery, with promotional signs and consumerist "products" which mimicked the American supermarket. -
Period: to
Alice Neel's Pregnancy series
A series of works exploring identity, sexuality, and the body. These paintings challenge the stereotype of depicting a female nude, but they however do not follow the political agenda of second wave feminism, as this movement was focused on eliminating workplace discrimination. -
Joseph Kosuth's One of Three Chairs
Explores the Visual concept of semiotics. -
Edward Kienholz's The State Hospital
A statement against the societal stigmas and treatment toward those considered "incompetent." -
Moshe Sadfie's Habitat 67
A historical landmark which was originally an experimental solution for high-quality housing in dense urban environments. -
David Hockney's A Bigger Splash
A pop art painting meant to inspire and evoke the emotions tied to hot Californian days at the pool. -
Richard Long's A Line Made by Walking
an earthwork that changed the perception of sculpture. -
David Hammons The Door
A piece that talks about how black people don't have access to the same education. -
Betye Saar's Liberation of Aunt Jemima
This piece is a statement on the folk art and commercial depictions of African Americans. -
James Turell's Rodens Crater
Started in 1973 and is an experience with light and sky. -
Magdalena Abakanowicz's Backs
This piece is a statement on the modern loss of individuality and and overwhelming push for conformity. -
Cindy Sherman's Bus Rider series
The series is controversial with the use of black face. Sherman never apologized. -
Cindy Sherman's Film Still #35
A part of a series of stills, this suggests no innate biological female identity exists and further questions the inherent nature and role of gender. -
Duane Hanson's Self-Portrait with Model
This sculpture depicts the artist himself and a more "ordinary" depiction of a model eating a meal as a means of companionship. This sculpture is interesting as Hanson glorifies these subjects without using the societal "ideal" appearance. -
Romare Bearbens's Quilting Time
Around the time when black artist started forming an identity. -
Ester Hernandez's Sun Mad
This work was used as a means to expose the hazardous pesticides which are used on the grapes which become raisins and contaminate the water supply. -
Jean-Michel Basquiat's Fallen Angel
A contemporary approach to expressionism. -
Maya Lin's Vietnam Memorial
A 21 year old Chinese american female anonymously won the design for the Vietnam war memorial. Additions were made to her memorial that she was not happy about. -
Mierle Laderman Ukeles' The Social Mirror
This work entails a mirror covering the sides of a garbage truck, which was intended to make the citizens of New York aware they are the ones who produce the massive amounts of waste in their city. -
Guerrilla Girls are Founded.
The guerrilla girls group is founded and point out how exclusive the art world is. -
Andres Jodorowsky's Piss Christ
A highly controversial image. -
Lynn Hershman's Deep Contact
The first interactive touchscreen installation where participants are invited to touch the character playing as their "guide" with sexual undertones. -
Sally Mann's Immediate Family
A controversial series of photographs because of the sensual display of childhood. -
Ildar Khanov's The Temple of all religions
A work in progress of a building that will have 16 towers when completed to represent the 16 largest world religions. -
Fred Wilson's Mining at he Museum
HIs piece revolutionized the museum through institutionalized critique. -
Guillermo Gomez-rena and Coco Fusco's Two Amerindians visit to the West
A critique on the practice of displaying human being during the early 1900's -
Pepón Osorio's The Scene of the Crime
An installation which depicts the Puerto Rican culture in New York while simultaneously speaking against how Puerto Ricans are depicted in the media. -
Adrian Piper's Cornered
Piper's institutionalized critique where she talks about her experiences as a black person. -
Yinka Shonibare's Mr. and Mrs. Andrews without Heads
Shonibare's take on an older painting with traditional African clothing. -
Andy Goldsworthy's Dandelion Line
A very temporary piece depicting a line of dandelions. -
Cai Guo-Qiang's Drawing for Transient Rainbow
Using gunpowder as his medium, Cai Guo-Qiang serves as an example of how artists can use Any material or medium of their choosing. -
Doris Salcedo's Installation at the 8th international Istanbul
1550 wooden chairs to show the mass grave of the anonymous victims of war -
Catherine Opie's Self Portrait Nursing
Opie's self portrait show her caring for her child but she represents a not widely represented sexual identity. -
Francis Alys's The Green Line
Alys made a paint version of a green line on a map symbolizing no mans land. -
Henry Hargreaves's No Seconds
Photographs of the last meals of people who where killed on death row
