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100,000 BCE
Prehistoric Art (The Beginning)
This is art produced by prehistorical cultures that continues until cultures develop a system of writing and methods of record keeping. -
10,000 BCE
Paleolithic Art
This art began in 2,500,000 BC and is known as the "old stone age". It is seen in caves and the images are typically of animals and some human interaction. -
Period: 10,000 BCE to 8000 BCE
Mesolithic Art
This is known as the "middle stone age". Following Paleolithic Art, Mesolithic Art makes use of only the color red and does not show any realistic figures. -
8000 BCE
Mesolithic Art Example
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Period: 8000 BCE to 2000 BCE
Neolithic Art
This period is known as the last part of the stone age. The sculptures made became bigger, as people did not have to carry the pottery around, and it was used to store harvested food. The infamous Stonehenge was produced during this period, as it is known that the neolithic culture would work in hundreds for extended periods of time. -
2000 BCE
Neolithic Art Example
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Period: 650 BCE to 27 BCE
Ancient Greek Art
Ancient Greek Art was known to produce naturalistic, yet idealized depictions of the human body. Painted pottery was also prevalent, and black figures, red figures, and white figures were shown on these works. It is clear that there was a huge stylistic development at this time. -
Period: 650 BCE to 480 BCE
Archaic Period
At this time, Greek art was no longer based on geometric designs; instead, it became more naturalistic. The art would illustrate epic tales, faces on sculptures were animated, and the bodies of sculptures showed a heightened attention to proportion and anatomy. -
600 BCE
Archaic Period Example
Kouros (Attica, Greece). Marble, 6' 1/2" high. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. -
Period: 480 BCE to 323 BCE
Classical Period
Art showed a representation of vitality of life, permanence, clarity, and harmony. Work was proportional and the red figure technique replaced the previous black figure technique. Because of this, advances in portraying the human body were made, such as portraying people as clothed, naked, at rest, or in motion. -
450 BCE
Classical Art Example
Terracotta volute-krater (bowl for mixing wine and water). Attica, Greece. 25 inches. -
323 BCE
Hellenistic Period Example
Laocoön and His Sons. Vatican Museums, Vatican City, Rome, Italy. Marble sculpture, 6 ft 10 in x 5 ft 4 in x 3 ft 8 in. -
Period: 323 BCE to 27 BCE
Hellenistic Period
The death of Alexander the Great marks the beginning of this period. The art was characterized by a sense of history and artists copied and adapted earlier styles. Art now depicted ethnic people, children, and the elderly and was used to decorate the town houses and country villas of Romans. -
Period: 450 to 1050
Dark Ages
The period where Christianity flourished in Europe. The art had its own aesthetic value and a majority of the art was religious, as it was made for cathedrals, churches, and ritual items. -
Period: 450 to 1450
Medieval Art
Art at this time expressed the Christian faith. The production of this art was in the form of sculptures, illuminated manuscripts, stained glass, metalwork, and mosaics. The colors were rich and would typically feature the use of gold and silver. The works of art were elaborate, as well. -
500
Byzantine Art Example
The Theotokos and Child with John II and Empress Irene. Hagia Sophia, Istanbul. Mosaic, 2.47 m x 2.76 m. -
Period: 500 to 1450
Byzantine Art
This art was developed in Constantinople, which was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire at the time, and the style combined Roman and Oriental arts. The use of human or animals in the artwork was forbidden, as it was believed to be idolatry. This was frowned upon in the Ten Commandments. -
1017
Romanesque Art Example
Apse from San Martín at Fuentidueña. Segovia, Castile-León, Spain. -
Period: 1017 to 1029
Romanesque Art
In this period, painted frescoes of Biblical scenes decorated churches and cathedrals. The styles were heavily influenced by Italy and Southern France. Sculptures depicted biblical history and church doctrines, and were seen on columns and around the doors of churches. Paintings were seen on the interior of churches as murals. -
Period: 1150 to 1450
Gothic Art
This art evolved from Romanesque art. Sculptures were of saints and the Holy Family and decorated doorways of cathedrals. The figures of these sculptures have individualized faces and figures, flowing draperies, natural poses and gestures. Plants also are sculpted realistically and are seen on the capitals of columns. Paintings, as well, depicted relaxed and natural figures. They were seen on altar pieces and showed scenes from the New Testament and had an emphais on curving lines and detail. -
1300
Medieval Art Example
Stained glass window. Troyes Cathedral, Troyes, France. -
Period: 1400 to 1530
Renaissance
This is a time of rebirth and celebration of humanism in Italy, following the Middle Ages. Artists had the ability to "rise", through apprenticeships and owning their own businesses. Various perspectives were prevalent at this time, such as orthogonal lines (diagonal lines that connect corners of forms to the vanishing point), horizon line (where sky meets land), and vanishing point (point at which all orthogonal lines meet and where all objects disappear). -
Period: 1400 to 1490
Italian Early Renaissance
The emergence of this period was centered in Florence, Italy. Popular figures include the Medici family, Brunelleschi and Donatello. The figures in the art were more realistic, due to their postures, poses, and emotion. -
1416
Gothic Art Example
January, from Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry. Herman, Paul and Jean de Limbourg. Musée Condé, Chantilly, France. Manuscript. -
1452
Italian Early Renaissance Example
Isaac, Jacob, and Esau. Lorenzo Ghiberti. Florence, Italy. Gilded bronze. 79.4 cm square. -
1490
Italian High Renaissance Example
The Last Judgement. Michaelangelo. Fresco, 539.3 in x 472.4 in. Sistine Chapel, Vatican City, Rome, Italy. -
Period: 1490 to 1530
Italian High Renaissance
Three popular artists came from this period: Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), Michaelangelo (1475-1564), and Raphael (1483-1520). Collectively, these three artists were able to convey emotional expression, the human body, and the "Classical spirit", which is harmonious, beautiful, and serene. Realism, linear perspective, and shading were mastered in this period. -
Period: 1530 to
Mannerism
This style originated in Florence and Rome and eventually spread to northern Italy, and central and northern Europe. It is a reaction to classicism and naturalism, seen in High Renaissance art. Intricate figures were portrayed, especially of the nude body in complex and artificial poses. Their limbs are somehow graceful, yet elongated, for instance. The painting styles showed an emotionally agitated style and exaggerated muscle tones. -
1535
Mannerism Art Example
Madonna of the Long Neck. Parmigianino. Uffizi, Florence, Italy. Oil on wood. 2.2 m x 1.3 m. -
Period: to
Baroque Art
Baroque translates to "irregular pearl" in Portuguese. This is fitting considering that Baroque Art is anything classified as irregular from the established rules and proportions of art. There is 3 characteristics: dynamic, diagonal line, and moral instruction. The art was made to stimulate the viewer's emotions. -
Period: to
Classicism
Classicism followed ancient Greek and Roman art principles, making use of harmony, restraint, and form. Artists used figures that were glorified and imitated actions that would be seen in the natural world. Simplicity, precision, and clear form were also used. -
Baroque Art Example
Crucifixion of Saint Peter. Caravaggio. Santa Maria del Popolo, Rome, Italy. Oil on canvas. 91 in x 69 in. -
Classicism Art Example
A Dance to the Music of Time. Nicolas Poussin. Wallace Collection, London, England. Oil on canvas. 32.5 in x 41 in. -
Period: to
Rococo Art
This art originated in Paris, yet was eventually seen in France, Germany,and Austria. Art was colorful, rich, and made use of pastel colors. It was viewed as light, elegant, and made use of curving and natural forms. The brushstrokes are delicate and have a light tone. Sculptures were natural, had an intimate scale, and varied surface effects. -
Period: to
Neoclassicism
This art term is interchanged with "classicism". This style, too, describes a revival of Greek and Roman art that occurred in Europe and America. The forms of Greek and Roman art coincided with the principles of order and reason of the European Age of Enlightenment. Neoclassicism is also viewed as a reaction against Baroque and Rococo art. -
Rococo Art Example
Cupid a Captive. François Boucher. Wallace Collection, London, England. Oil on canvas. 164.5 x 85.5 cm. -
Neoclassicism Art Example
The Death of Socrates. Jacques Louis David. Metropolitan Museum, New York. Oil on canvas. 51 in x 77 1/4 in. -
Period: to
Romanticism
This art style has the ability to evoke a feeling of needing to act and make a change. It places emotion and intuition before, or on an equal footing, with reason. Themes that were bizarre or extremely heroic were seen in the art, as well as the use of bold contrasts of light and shade. -
Romanticism Example
Wanderer above the Sea of Fog. Caspar David Friedrich. Kunsthalle Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany. Oil on canvas. 37.3 in x 29.4 in. -
Period: to
Realism & Impressionism
Realism pieces of art include scenes of the rural and urban working class life, street life, cafes and night clubs, as well as the body, nudity, and sensual subjects. It moved from the "ideal" to "ordinary", moving away from the depicting of aesthetics. It influenced impressionism, which makes use of rapid, spontaneous and loose brushstrokes. This style sought to capture fleeting moments, so sketches and careful completion were typically not used. Light and color was used to unify a photo. -
Period: to
Age of Modern Art
It is difficult to determine what defines modern art, due to the fact that today's, new art, can be deemed as "modern". However, it has specific defining characteristics. These include new types of art (such as collage art or animation), use of new materials ("found objects", being fragments of newspaper or other items), expressive use of color, and new techniques. Important movements include impressionism and cubism, for instance. -
Realism Art Example
Sunshine, Brittany. Nathaniel Hill. Oil on canvas. 18 in x 12 in. -
Period: to
Post Impressionism
Artists of this time rejected the limitations of impressionism. Instead, they created personal, spiritual expressions. Abstract form and patterns were used to describe the world around them. This shows the rejection of depicting the observed world. It was valued among the artists to use their memories and emotions to connect with their viewpoints of the world. -
Period: to
Symbolism
This art had an emphasis on emotions, feelings, ideas, and subjectivity, rather than realism. Furthermore, there was a heavy emphasis on the meaning behind the use of form, lines, shapes, and colors. The work created by these artists of the time is personal and expresses the artists's ideologies. Symbolism had a French, Russian, and Belgian origin. -
Post Impressionism Art Example
Portrait of Doctor Gachet. Vincent van Gogh. 23.4 in x 22 in. Oil on canvas. -
Symbolism Art Example
Death and The Masks. James Ensor. Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Liège, Liège, Belgium. Oil on canvas. 31.1 in x 39.37 in. -
Impressionism Art Example
Lady in Blue. Paul Cezanne. Oil on canvas. 90 cm x 73.5 cm. -
Period: to
Classical Revival of Modern Art
This period is known as "the call to order" or "the return to order". It began during the First World War in France and Italy and spread once peace was declared. It called for stability and the value of tradition. The pieces of art followed three genres: female nudes, figure composition, and still life. -
Period: to
Expressionism
This artistic style relies on depicting subjective emotions, rather than objective reality. It accomplishes this through the use of distortion and exaggeration, as well as vivid, violent, and dynamic elements. The brushwork is rapid and lines are jagged and distorted. Nature is no longer literally represented; instead, fear, horror, or the celebration of nature with hallucinatory intensity is represented. The themes are overall extremely dramatic and are intended to cause intense feelings. -
Period: to
Cubism
This style, created by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, emphasized the flat, two-dimensional surface of the painting. Perspective and chiaroscuro were rejected and fragmented objects were seen. Geometric forms were used, as well as multiple or contrasting vantage points. -
Cubism Art Example
Girl with a Mandolin. Pablo Picasso. Museum of Modern Art, New York. Oil on canvas. 100.3 cm x 73.6 cm. -
Expressionism Art Example
Large Blue Horses. Franz Marc. Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Oil on canvas. 105.7 cm x 181.1 cm. -
Period: to
Social Realism
This period occurred during a time of global economic depression and racial conflict. The artists of this period created realistic images of the lower and working classes (also known as the "masses"), by envisioning themselves in the position of these workers. They felt that their work was a weapon to fight capitalist exploitation of workers. -
Period: to
Art Deco
This is a movement in decorative arts that developed as a major style in western Europe and the United States. The art was intended to look sleek and possess an anti-traditional elegance that would symbolize wealth and sophistication. Simple, clean shapes, often geometric, were used. Intense color schemes were prominent, such as silver, black, chrome, yellow, and red. This style attempts to infuse functional objects with artistic touches. -
Period: to
Socialist Realism
This term typically refers to any painting or sculpture created in a realist style, that contains a socialist message. In short, it is a political type of realist painting. It has been referred to as "Communist Art" and is a style seen in Russia. The art consisted of four tenets: orientation towards the people, ideological narrative, class content, and the role of infusing workers with the spirit of communism. -
Period: to
Surrealism
Surrealism made use of one's conscious and unconscious mind, allowing the viewer to experience a realm of dreams and fantasy. It is difficult to summarize consistencies seen in the work of artists, being that each artist had their own means of self-exploration. Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytical approach was prevalent in the surrealist work: there is hidden meaning to be found. Popular artists include Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso. -
Classical Revival of Modern Art Example
Large Bather. Pablo Picasso. Musee de I'Orangerie, Paris, France. Oil painting. -
Surrealism Art Example
The Treachery of Images (also known as This Is Not a Pipe and The Wind and the Song). René Magritte. Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, California. Oil on canvas. 25 in x 37 in. -
Art Deco Example
Normandie Poster. A.M. Cassandre. Advertisement for a French Line Transatlantic Cruise. -
Social Realism Art Example
American Tragedy. Philip Evergood. Oil on canvas. 29.5 in x 39.5 in. -
Age of Modern Art Example
Weeping Woman. Pablo Picasso. Tate Collection, London, England. 60 cm x 49 cm. Oil painting on canvas. -
Period: to
Abstract Expressionism
This artwork was prevalent in America in the late 1940s and became a dominant trend in Western painting during the 1950s. It is clear that this art is not structured and is free, spontaneous, and depicts personal emotions. It has two styles: action painters, who used an expressive style known as gestural painting (using energetic and expressive brushstrokes), and color field, which expressed reflection and mood. -
Abstract Expressionism Art Example
New York, N.Y.. Franz Kline. Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York. Enamel on canvas. 135.6 cm x 172.7 cm. -
Socialist Realism Art Example
Young Steel Workers. Ivan Bevzenko. Ukraine. Oil on canvas. 80 cm x 156 cm.
