| Part 1: Introduction A few possible Functions and Roles of Art/Artists: 1) Experiencer 2) Reporter 3) Analyst 4) Activist 5) Healer What is art? Who is/are the audience(s)? What may we learn from art? What is art's value? What are some themes of art? 1) Everyday life 2) Stories 3) Nature 4) The sacred 5) Politics 6) Fantasy 7) Art itself… A few beginning art terms: 1) Representational art 2) Abstract art 3) Non-objective art 4) Iconography 5) Form 6) Content 7) Genre Fundamentals and Formal Elements of Art & Design: 1) Line 2) Actual line/contour line 3) Analytic/Classical line 4) Expressive line 5) Lines show motion 6) Implied lines 7) Shape (flat, only height and width) 8) Mass (solid, 3-dimensional, height, width and depth) Part 2: The Vocabulary of Art TOP Methods of creating illusion of depth and 3-dimensional space: 1) composition 2) overlapping 3) scale 4) linear perspective (one and two point) 5) atmospheric/aerial perspective 6) use of light 7) chiaroscuro 8) hatching and crosshatching 9) use of value (key) 10) use of color 11) primaries, secondaries, intermediaries (tertiaries) 12) analogous colors 13) complementary colors 14) "warm" and "cool" colors 15) monochromatic palette 16) polychromatic palette 17) Local color 18) Arbitrary color 19) texture (visual/simulated vs. actual) 20) pattern (any formal elements that repeats itself in acomposition) 21) time and motion Principles of Design: 1) symmetrical balance 2) asymmetrical balance 3) radial balance 4) afocal composition Part 3: 2-Dimensional MediaTOP binder medium Drawing 1) dry media: chalk, charcoal, graphite, pastels 2) Wet media: oil pastels (when used with linseed oil), ink, wash and brush paper, scissors, computer, fingers, etc. Painting 1) encaustic (pigment and wax) 2) fresco (pigment and plaster) 3) tempera (pigment, egg yolk and water) 4) oil paint (linseed oil and pigment… dries very slow) 5) watercolor (pigment, water and gum Arabic) 6) acrylic paints (synthetic resin, water and pigment) Printmaking 1) relief: raised areas are printed, ie: woodcuts, linocut 2) intaglio: areas below surface are printed ie: engraving, etching 3) lithography: "drawing on stone" 4) silkscreen Printing: stencil printmaking process 5) monotype Camera Arts 1) photography ("invented" in 1839) How did photography affect and advance painting? Why may we not necessarily “trust” photography? 2) film ("invented" in 1895) film terms: shots (sequences), flashback, cross-cutting, editing, montage (rapid, multiple sequences) 3) video Art (when an artist uses a television &/or camera in their art) Graphic Design & Illustration signs and symbols word and image illustration the digital realm Part 4 Three-Dimensional Media (including Architecture) TOP Sculpture subtractive process additive process 3 ways we experience 3-dimensional art: 1) relief (low/bas relief and high relief) 2) in-the-round 3) environment (indoor: installation; outdoor: earthwork) carving modeling casting assemblage (using "found objects") craft vs. fine arts (what may be somesimilarities and differences?) ceramics (slab construction, coiling, potter’s wheel) glass metal fiber (weaving, embroidery, for example) wood mixed-media: 1) collage (2-d) 2) assemblage (3-d) 3) installation/earthwork 4) performance art Architecture Notes topography and technology what are some pecific purposes and intentions of architecture? walls may employ one of two basic structural systems: shell system (example: igloos) skeleton-and-skin system (example: skyscrapers) Methods of making a building: 1) load-bearing construction (example: ziggurats and pyramids) 2) post-and-lintel (tensile strength) (example: Greek/Roman colonnades) 3) column orders: Doric (600-500BC, plain/heavy looking) 4) Ionic (c. 400BC, leaner, characterized by a scroll on capital) 5) Corinthian (c.200BC, mainly used by Romans, highly decorated with stylized acanthus herb leaves on capital) 6) round arches (curved, semi-circular architectural formthat spans an opening or space built of wedge-shaped blocks) 7) barrel vaults (extension of a single arch lined one behind the other) 8) cross /groin vaults (when 2 barrel vaults meet at right angles) 9) domes (a roof in the shape of a half-globe) 10) pointed arches (arch that rises steeply to a point atthe top) 11) cast-iron construction (strong material made by adding carbon to iron) (example: Eiffel Tower, 1889, nearly 1,000 ft, Paris) 12) Suspension (as in for bridges) 13) frame construction (as in for domestic dwellings) 14) steel and reinforced concrete (as in for skyscrapers) 15) cantilever (an "overhang" design used primarilyby architect Frank L Wright) 16) geodesic domes Part 5: Arts in Time TOP The Ancient World We as students, historians, critics, archeologists, etc., are the ones that call ancient artifacts and images art. The origin of our obsession with naturalism over abstraction in representational art goes backto ancient times. We can only guess as to the meaning(s) ofthe cave paintings dating back to c. 25,000 – 10,000 BC (made with plant matter and animal fat as red and ochre pigment): 1) perhaps something to do with evoking success in the hunt? 2) to encourage the return of large herdsto the area? 3) perhaps to identify with the animal inthat they become "one" with & of the land Neolithic (new stone age) societies developed most quickly in the world's fertile river valleys: 1) by 4,000 BC along Tigris & Euphrates in Mesopotamia & along Nile in Egypt; 2) by 2,200 BC along Indus & Ganges in India; 3) by 2,000 BC along Huang Ho & Yangtze in China Sumerian culture (centered around present-day Iraq): 1) was a very complex societycredited with inventing writing and the wheel; 2) communicated with their god through the use of ziggurats (stepped temples); they rose high in the middle of the city; 3) were constantly threatened by invasions. Egyptians: 1) were protected on all sides by sea and desert; 2) cherished the ideals of stability, order and endurance; 3) were dedicated to providing a home forthe ka, the part of the human being that survives life on earthafter death; 4) in the 14th century BC, during the brief rule of Akhenaten, delved into matters of life instead of death. Naturalism in their arts flourished (as one may see in the Nefertiti sculpture portrait). Portraiture may be considered one of their greatest accomplishments (along with architecture and tombs). Greeks: 1) idealized the humanfigure (most important subject is the celebrated athlete); used contrapposto 2) depicted physical beauty as an end in itself (proportion and aesthetics were important); 3) embodied their values in the building of their temples (in their city states); 4) built their important temples on an elevated site, above the city (acropolis = top+city); 5) golden age: 480 – 430 BC (Classical Period); 6) main city: Athens; 7) most famous building: the Parthenon; 8) major contributions: use of columns, reason, individuality and democracy Romans: 1) were after realism in the expression of their ideas and in their art; 2) imported substantial amounts of Greek art which they admired and copied; 3) painted illusionistic landscapes, still-lifes and portraits in their pursuit of verism/realism; 4) most famous building: the Pantheon; 5) main city: Rome; 6) major contributions: law, engineering,concrete, use of the arch and of the dome; 7) Rome became very wealthy but empire began to collapse after the death of emperor Aurilius in 180 AD. Invasions from every direction also caused its fall. The Middle Ages (Age of Religion) The Middle Ages (aka the Medieval Period & the Christian Era) includes the millennium from the 5th to the 15th centuries (from the fall of Rome until the Renaissance). Three major shifts occurred that had far-reaching effects on western civilization: 1) Cultural leadership moved north from the Mediterranean to France, Germany & the British Isles; 2) Christianity triumphed over paganism and barbarism; 3) Emphasis shifted from the "here-&-now" to the "hereafter", and with it from the "body as beautiful" to the "body as corrupt" The artist/artisan/craftsperson was anonymous. Christian focus was on salvation for a glorious after-life. Nudes were forbidden and images of clothed bodies showed ignorance of anatomy. Interest in realistically representing objects of the world disappeared. There was less interest in still-lifes, landscapes. Medieval artisans were interested exclusively in the soul, especially in instructing new believers in church dogma. Art became the servant of the church. Theologians believed church members wouldcome to appreciate divine beauty through materialbeauty. Lavish mosaics, paintings and sculpture were created. Medieval art was composed of three different styles:
Byzantine 1) Byzantine refers to eastern Mediterranean art from 330 AD when Constantine transferred theseat of the Roman Empire to Byzantium (later called Constantinople) until the city’s fall to the Turks in 1453 AD. 2) Constantine chose to make his places of worship shaped like a rectangle loosely based on Roman designs for public buildings. 3) Generally speaking, Byzantine art is flat and highly-patterned. 4) Many churches were adornedelaborately on the inside with marble and glittering mosaics (small bits ofglass, stones, or tiles arranged in a pattern). 5) Mosaics were intended to publicize the Christian creed, so their subjects were generally religion with Christ shown as teacher and all-powerful ruler. 6) Sumptuous grandeur, with halos spotlighting sacred figures and shimmering gold backgrounds, characterize their works. 7) The Byzantine mosaic artist had little interest in naturalism. Their intention was to create a symbolic, mystical art. The mosaics caused the light in the interior to be almost transcendental in feeling. Characteristics of Byzantine mosaics: 1) used reflective glass cubes 2) surfaces were left uneven so work sparkled 3) glowing glass in wide range of colors 4) found on walls and ceilings, esp. domes 5) subjects were religious, like Jesus as shepherd 6) large cubes in stylized designs 7) background was abstract: sky blue or gold Romanesque When Charlemagne assumed leadership in 771 AD, Romanization was assured. He was intent on restoring the glories ofthe Roman civilization. Romanesque Art was the dominant style from the 8th to the 12th centuries, and, in architecture, is characterized by the round arch and the barrel vault. Characteristics of Romanesque architecture: 1) emphasis: horizontal layout 2) elevation: modest height 3) layout: multiple units 4) main trait: rounded arch 5) support system: piers, walls 6) engineering: barrel and groin vaults 7) ambience: dark, solemn 8) exterior: simple, severe Characteristics of Romanesque mosaics: 1) used opaque marble & stone cubes 2) surfaces were smooth, flat finish 3) colors limited due to use of natural stones 4) typically found on floors of private homes 5) subjects were secular, like games, battles 6) used small pieces as attempt for detail 7) background represented landscape Gothic Gothic Art was the dominant style from the 12th to the 15th centuries, and, in architecture, is characterized by the pointed arch and flying buttresses. Characteristics of Gothic architecture: 1) emphasis: verticality 2) elevation: soaring 3) layout: unified, unbroken space 4) main trait: pointed arch 5) support system: exterior buttresses 6) engineering: ribbed groin vaults 7) ambience: airy, bright 8) exterior: richly decorated w/sculptures Churches, mosques, temples were more thansimply assembly halls.They were texts with volumes of ornaments &motifs preaching the path to salvation. Renaissance through the Baroque The Renaissance By the beginning of the 15th century, a new era was born. It was characterized by a revival ofinterest in arts & sciences that had been lost since antiquity.This revival, or "rebirth" is known as the birth of the era of the individual (re-birth of life-like art over supernatural). A re-discovery of the Greco-Roman tradition helped artists reproduce visual images accurately. Aided by the expansion of scientific knowledge, such as the understanding of anatomy and perspective, painters of the 15th through 16thcenturies went beyond Greece and Rome in technical proficiency. In the Renaissance, the artist was freed from the restrictive dogma of the Medieval church. It was during this period that the role of the artist went from simple maker (suggesting an anonymous craftsperson) to that of creator (suggesting individual genius). Five main Renaissance breakthroughs/re-discoveries: 1) oil on wood/canvas:allowed greater range of colors and gradations of tone thanhad been allowed to painters using tempera and fresco on plaster walls. 2) use of perspective: the methods of creating illusion of depth on a flat surface became the foundation of European painting for the next 500 years (linear & atmospheric). 3) chiaroscuro: light to dark technique for modeling forms used to produce illusion of rounded, sculptural relief on a flat surface. Light and shadow was a breakthrough to just using lines to create form. 4) pyramid configuration: rigid profile portraits & grouping of figures on a horizontal grid in the picture’s foreground gave way to a more 3-dimensional composition. 5) contrapposto: the re-visitation& exploration in sculpture of principle of the weight inwhich the weight of the body rested on one leg with the body re-aligned accordingly (giving the illusion of a figure in arrested motion andenergy). As the Renaissance spread from Italy (main center was Florence) to Northern Europe, it took on different forms. Overall, during the Renaissance, times were pretty stable:
Mannerism Between the High Renaissance in Florence (from the death of Raphael), 1520, and the Baroque(around 1600), many Italian painters went on a stylistic coursethat was highly individualistic. Times were becoming more unstable and disordered. Rome had been sacked by the Germansand Spaniards. The church had lost its authority. All issues of representing reality had been solved and art had reached a peak of perfection & harmony… what now? Replace harmony with dissonance, reason with emotion, and reality with imagination! Characteristics of Mannerism (which means"my way", "di maniera", a personal style): 1) dramatic use of light (often unreal) 2) exaggerated perspective 3) distorted forms (elongated, writhing, twisting figures) 4) vivid colors (often lurid, acid greens, bright yellows& blues, strong pinks) 5) oblique compositions w/ a void in the center (often many focal points) 6) figures often were crowded around a highly artificial arrangement with unusual spatial effects (crowded figures were often cut-off by the edge of the frame) 7) chaotic, vibrant , dynamic swirls of line Most well-known Mannerists: El Greco (1541-1614) and older Michelangelo The Baroque The Baroque is known as the Ornate Age… it is a term used to identify the period in Western art from about 1600 - 1750. Its linguistic origins indicate something complex, intricate, or irregular.It most often refers to the increase in emotional content and exuberant compositions after the restraintand formality of the Renaissance. Baroque Art succeeded in marrying the advanced techniques and grand scale of the Renaissance to the emotion, intensity & drama of Mannerism making the Baroque era the most sumptuous and ornate in the history of art. Characteristics of the Baroque (art and architecture): 1) theatrical lighting 2) curvilinear forms 3) themes that elicit a powerful emotional response (often, through light/dark contrast) 4) exuberance 5) drama 6) emotion Most well-known Baroque artists: 1) Caravaggio (rejected Renaissance idealized beauty and Mannerist artificiality) 2) Bernini (architect, composer, sculptor); 3) Borromini (architect) 4) Velazquez 5) Vermeer 6) Rembrandt 7) Rubens The 18th & 19th Centuries (Rococo, Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism) Rococo A style of art popular in Paris around 1730 – 1775 (during the reign of Louis XV) characterized by curvilinear forms, pastel colors, very ornate and light, often frivolous subject matter. The Rococo was mainly used as decoration and interior design. The name rococo is derived from the "rocaille" motif of shellwork and pebbles ornamenting fountains. Louis XIV (the "Sun King") died in 1715 after ruling for over 70 years. After his death, Europe heaved a deep sigh of relief, social relaxation and light-heartedness. By 1760, Rococo was considered outmoded in France, but was in vogue until the end of the century for luxurious castles and churches throughout Germany and central Europe. Characteristics of the Rococo (art and architecture): 1) mood: playful, superficial, alive with energy, pleasure and indulgence 2) interior décor: gilded woodwork, enormous wall mirrors 3) style: light, graceful, delicate 4) architectural features: extreme curvilinear forms (more than the Baroque) 5) sculpture: the Rococo was the Baroque eroticized 6) shapes used in designs: sinuous, undulating "s" & "c" curves, ribbon-like scrolls 7) in painting: indebted to the Baroque (especially to Rubens) 8) colors: white, silver, gold, light pinks 9) buzzwords: elegance, refined taste, pompous, intrigue, wit, irony, gossip Most well-known Rococo artists: 1) Watteau 2) Boucher 3) Fragonard Neoclassicism A style of the late 18th and early 19th centuries (1780 – 1820) that was influenced by the Classical Greek styles (5th – century BC) and that used classical themes for its subject matter. The revival of Classicism in painting, sculpture, architecture and design (esp. in furniture) was a clear reaction against the ornate, overly-indulgent Rococo. Characteristics of Neoclassicism(art and architecture): 1) values: order, solemnity, formality, logic, intellect 2) tone: calm, rational 3) subject: Greek and Roman history, mythology 4) technique: emphasized drawing with clarity of line, subdued colors, no traces of brushstrokes (very smoothcanvases) 5) rules of art: morally uplifting, inspirational, educational Most well-known Neoclassical artists: 1) Jacques Louis David (wanted to inspire new French Republic… the demand was for heroism, civic virtue/duty) 2) Ingres (J.L. David’s student), and Canova (sculptor) Romanticism A style defined as a dramatic, emotional, and subjective art arising in the 19th century (1800-1850) in opposition tothe austere, conservative discipline of Neoclassicism. At the heart of this style is the belief that reality is a function of each individual’s singular point of view, and that the artist’s task is to reveal that point of view. Characteristics of Romanticism: 1) values: intuition, imagination, emotions 2) subjects: legends, exotica, nature, violence, narratives of heroic struggle,the sublime (a feeling of awe experienced before things not easy tocomprehend, such as storms, death, enormous mountains, etc.) 3) inspiration: Medieval & Baroque eras, middle east & far east, wild animals 4) tone: subjective, spontaneous, non-conformist 5) colors: unrestrained, deep, rich shades 6) technique: quick, thick brushstrokes, strong light/dark contrasts, use of diagonals Most well-known Romantic artists: 1) Eugene Delacroix 2) Theodore Gericault 3) Francisco Goya 4) Caspar Friedrich Realism A style defined as a generally the tendency to render the facts of existence, but specifically, in the19th century, the desire to describe the world in a way unadulterated by the imaginative and idealist tendencies of the Romantic sensibility. Artists, such as Courbet, who ascribed torealism, believed artists should confine their representationto accurate observation and notation of the phenomena of dailylife. No longer was there necessarily any "greater" reality beyond or behind the facts that lay before their eyes. Painters, it was felt, must represent thereality of their time and place, whatever it might look like(commonplace, ugly, "low", etc.). It was, in part, at least, the realist impulse that led to the invention of photography in the 1830s. Most well-known Realist artists: 1) Courbet 2) Francisco Goya 3) Whistler 4) Manet Impressionism The first avant-garde (unorthodox, experimental) movement. The name was invented in 1874by a hostile critic, inspired by Monet’s, "Impression, Sunrise". The aim of the Impressionists, who workedmainly from about 1874-1886 in France, was to capture the passing moment and light by means of a sketchy technique, strong color and a commitment to the outdoors. Impressionists worked on-the-spot and didas little re-working in the studio as possible. Oil paints in tin tubes were patented in 1841. This allowed artists to make the outdoorstheir "studio". Most well-known Impressionist artists: 1) Claude Monet 2) Mary Cassat 3) Degas 4) Auguste Renoir Post-Impressionism Name given to describe the painting of a number of artists working in widely different styles inthe last decades of the 19th century (mainly in France). It is a blanket term referring to art that both learned from and rejected certain Impressionist principles. Their concerns were mainly formal and emotional. Most well-known Post-Impressionist artists and their characteristics: 1) Cezanne (1839-1906) began breaking down forms, abstracting them and painting as if looking at,say, a still-life, from many angles simultaneously (precursor to Cubism). 2) Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) used expressive lines, swirls, and thick ("impasto")brushstrokes. His paintings were "emotional". 3) Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) painted stylized figures, used symbolic & allegorical colors. 4 & 5) Seurat & Signac experimented with scientific notions of color, "Pointillism" & "Divisionism" (technique where one applies small, repetitive dots/dabs of unmixed color on the picture surface so that the viewer may "optically mix" compliments: red/green, yellow/violet, blue/orange). The 20th Century (Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Cubism, The Fauves, German Expressionism, Avant-Gardes, Futurism, Dada, Surrealism, American Modernism, Streamlining, The 1940s & 1959s, Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, Minimalism, Postmodernism) What are some differences and similarities between/among Design, Crafts and Fine Arts? (Arts and Crafts Movement, Great Exposition, England, 1851, Henry Cole) mainstream design of 20th century up to 1960s confronts the choice between the geometric/rectilinear and the organic/curvilinear Art Nouveau what?: undulating curves, expressive personal style, "organic", mainly asymmetrical when/where? 1900, Paris (became international in influence) who? Siegfried Bing, Louis Comfort Tiffany, Antoni Gaudi Art Deco what?: used both geometric and organic in designs, "entertaining" style, "organic", mainly symmetrical yet also asymmetrical designs, often used either rare and expensive materials (such as silver, ebony, pearls) and/or modern materials (such as steel, chrome, plastics) when/where? 1920s and 1930s, Paris (became international in influence) who? Louis Sue, Paul Frankl (furniture designers) Cubism A style pioneered by Pablo Picasso and George Braque in the first decade of the 20th century, noted for the geometry of its forms, its fragmentation of the object, and its increasing abstraction (1907-1914). Cubism drew attention to the contradictions involved in depicting a 3-D scene on a 2-D surface. Picasso and Braque purposely flattened out objects to emphasize 2-dimensionality. "Paintings became about painting". There are 2 types of cubism: 1) Analytic (1907-12) broke down "real" objects into different parts,into little geometric "cubes". 2) Synthetic (1912-14) built up recognizable images from abstract parts using "ready-made" materials such as newspapers (collage = to glue). In Cubism, color was de-emphasized, for the Cubist, art was about form. The Fauves An art movement of the early 20th century characterized by its bold arbitrary color (1905-1910). Its name is derived from the French word "fauve" meaning "wild beast". The Fauves used powerful brush strokes and, when they exhibited in 1905 (in the Salon d'Automne in Paris) they caused a great controversy. Unlike the German Expressionists, the work of the Fauves tended to be joyful. Fauves combined broad, flat zones of color, patterned space (like Cezanne), and brought together complementary colors beside one another (like Seurat). The main Fauves include: 1) Matisse 2) Vlaminick 3) Dufy 4) Derain German Expressionists An art that emphasized the psychological and emotional content of the work, associated particularly with German art of the early 20th century (1905 – 1920s). In the theater and in painting, Expressionism had established itself as a reaction to Realism. Expressionist artists wanted to portray the inner reality of emotions rather than the outer appearance of reality. The choice of imagery and material was interpreted as an escape from the oppressive reality of the post-war (WWI) period and as a predilection of the next horrific war (WWII). Main characteristics and moods of German Expressionism: 1) despair, anxiety, isolation, fear 2) spiritual abstraction qualities of color 3) vigorous brushstrokes 4) distortion or exaggerationof shapes and colors 5) believed color and line express emotions directly to viewer Main artists associated with German Expressionism: 1) Edvard Munch (Norwegian painter who inspired German Expressionists) 2) Franz Marc (member of the "Blue Rider" group in Munich) 3) Wassily Kandinsky (member of the "Blue Rider" group in Munich) 4) Kirschner (member of "The Bridge" group in Dresden) 5) Emil Nolde (member of "The Bridge" group in Dresden) Avant-Gardes
Futurism An early 20th century art movement (1909-1918) characterized by its desire to celebrate the movement & speed of modern industrial life. Futurism was founded by the poet Marinetti (known as "the caffeine of Europe"). Its members rejected the past and instead celebrated the dynamism of the machine age and city life. They published aggressive manifestoes andstaged events designed to shock. They championed the machine (particularlyautomobiles, locomotives, film, & photography, especiallyin how it influenced painting and drawing). Futurism was short-lived due to the catastrophic WWI. Main Futurist: 1) Balla 2) Boccioni 3) Marinetti (Marinetti is quoted for having said that "a roaring car is more beautiful than the famous Greek marble statue,the 'Winged Victory' ") Dada An art movement that originated during WWI in a number of large cities, including New York,Paris, Berlin, Barcelona, Hanover, Cologne & Zurich (c.1914-1920). Dada was so antagonistic to traditional styles and materials that it was considered by many to be an "anti-art". Dada is a non-sense word (baby-babble, also, hobby horse). Dada is a movement of irreverent, violentprotest against the state of western society that led to the First World War. Members saw art as elitist, decadent and middle-class. They staged events designed to shock and created materials out of unconventional materials based on chance. Often, Dada artists were interested in the "art of ideas", theories, and challenging conventions (for creating dialogue). Main Dada artists: 1) Marcel Duchamp 2) Arp 3) Max Ernst 4) Francis Picabia Surrealism A style of art of the 20th century (1924-1940s, Paris, Spain) that emphasized dream imagery,chance operations and rapid, thoughtless forms of notation that expressed, it was felt,the unconscious mind. Surrealism drew on certain ideas of Dada and on the writings of psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud to create an art which was intended to free the viewer as well as the artist by exploring the world of the unconscious and subconscious mind. Surrealism was practiced in both scrupulous realistic techniques as well as more free-associative, abstract techniques. Main Surrealist artists: 1) de Chirico 2) Salvador Dali 3) Rene Magritte 4) Arp 5) Max Ernst 6) Paul Klee 7) Joan Miro American Modernism when/where: c 1908-1940, Midwest, New York what: while artists elsewhere moved increasingly toward abstraction, American painters kept alive the realist tradition and portrayed American life with utmost fidelity. Many artists preferred a realist approach, which was supported, on the one hand, by the growing popularity of photography, and, on the other, an increasing conviction that art, in the face of the harsh realities of the Great Depression of the 1930s,should deal with the problems of daily life. who: 1) in New York Henrib, Sloan, Bellows (painted sports)… their style was realistic and sketch-like; their subjects were often urban grit and vigor Edward Hopper… painted scenes of loneliness, despair, isolation, emptiness (he also worked in the Midwest) 2) in Midwest Thomas Hart Benton, Grant wood… they painted the Plains, images of "solid, hard-working" Americans, patriotism, heroicism Streamlining what?: designers discovered that by eliminating unnecessarysurface details and that by rounding the edges of trains, planes andautomobiles, air flowed smoothly over the surface which meant thatless energy was used and the machine could move faster; the "organic",curvy line was "in" when/where? 1930s, America (became international in influence) who? influenced designers of furniture, vacuum cleaners, toasters, etc.popular slogan of the period: "to be modern was to be streamlined, to be streamlines is to be American, thus, to be modern is being American" 1940s and 1950s the "organic", curvy line was "in", so was the notion that bigger is better, especially as seen in the automobiles (sculptures on wheels) of the period Abstract Expressionism A painting style of the late 1940s and early 1950s, predominantly American, mainly in NY, characterized by its rendering of expressive content by abstract or nonobjective means. Goal? To express inner life & emotions through art Technique: free application of paint & no reference to visual reality; Some abstract painters used a more "Hard-Edge", controlled approach Theory: Image not result from preconceived idea, but from creative process Who? 1) Jackson Pollock 2) Ashile Gorky 3) Willem De Kooning 4) Franz Kline 5) Mark Rothko 6) Clifford Still 7) Hans Hoffman Pop Art A style arising in the early 1960s (mainly in the US and in England) characterized by its emphasis on the forms and imagery of mass culture. Main artists: 1) Andy Warhol 2) Claes Oldenburg 3) Roy Lichtenstein Minimalism A style of art, predominantlyAmerican & Japanese in the 1960s and 1970s, characterizedby its rejection of expressive content and its use of "minimal" formal means. Minimalists wished to "strip" away any content and narratives from the work. They claimed that "what you see is what you see". Form & look: 1) abstract 2) geometric modules 3) clean 4) simple 5) bare 6) elegant 7) machine-made-looking Who? 1) Donald Judd (rows of boxes) 2) Dan Flavin (sculpts w/light), 3) Sol Lewitt (simple black & white forms/cubes) 4) Richard Serra 5) Robert Morris (large hard-edge sculptures) 6) Carl Andre (arranges bricks, stones, tiles) Post-Modern directions Postmodernism is a term used to describe the willfully plural & eclectic art forms of contemporary art. Also, since 1960s, (contemporary) design has become more pluralistic and all-inclusive formally speaking (geometric & organic); there is a readiness to incorporate anything and everything into one design. Postmodernist quote: "The future of art lay in the past more than in the individual imagination" Arts of Islam & of Africa Islam Islam arose during the 7th century AD on the Arabian Peninsula. Prophet Muhammad preached message of islam (Arabic for "submission", submission to God). In 622, Muhammad left Mecca for Medina, marking a new era (year 1). Qur'an ("recitation"): the holy book of Islam worship of idols are forbidden! images of animate beings in religious contexts forbidden
Africa what are the purposes of art in African cultures? what are some of the major art forms of Africa? what is the role/function of the mask? the masquerade? naturalism and abstraction in human and spirit representations; importance of gender roles and organizations Arts of East Asia: India, China, and Japan India Indus Valley: cities arose around 2,600 BC. Buddha ("awakened")- leader who had much impact on the world; lived around 400 BC In early Buddhist art, images were not allowed; after the end of the 1st century, Buddha figurative images began to appear. Buddhists believe time is cyclical.. brahmins- priestly class. stupa- solid earthen mound faced with stone. yakshi- nature embodying ideas of fertility and abundance. mudras- hand gestures indicating preaching. Hinduism became predominant religion in India. Hinduism is not one religion but many related faiths with several deities (Shiva, Durga, Vishnu). shikhara: majestic curving tower. garbhagriha (womb-house): small, dark cave-like chamber/dwelling for deity. Jain ("victor") religion traces itsbeginnings to a sage named Mahavira (6th century BC). Mughal culture (Islamic people from Central Asia) developed in India beginning in the 16th century. Most beloved work of architecture is the Taj Majal. China Fundamental features of Chinese landscape are the 3 great rivers: 1) Yellow 2) Yangtze 3) Xi History of China begins with the Shang dynasty ~ 1500-1050 BC. Zhou dynasty conquered Shang around 1050 BC. Confucius: influential5th century BC philosopher; his ideas about a stablesociety became central to Chinese culture. In 221 BC, state of Qin ("chin") united China into an empire for 1st time; 1st emperor was Shihuangdi. Han dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) overthrew the Qin. Important Chinese philosophies: 1) Confucianism - practical and concerned with peace/earthly matters; 2) Daoism - (the"way"/"path") concerned with bringing humanity into harmony with nature; on a popular level, became a religion. The Age of Buddhism: Tang dynasty (618 – 906 AD) much Buddhist art of Tang dynasty was destroyed; Buddhismconsidered "foreign" religion. Song dynasty (960 – 1279 AD); there was a rise of sculpture & landscape painting Yuan dynasty (1279 – 1368 AD) Ming dynasty (1368 – 1644 AD) Qing dynasty (1644 – 1911 AD) Rise of "scholar" during Song and into Ming dynasties: goal? study classic texts of philosophy, history and literature as well as painting and calligraphy in order to produce the Confucian ideal of a cultivated person, often for government service. Main Chinese art charactistics and types: 1) reverance for nature 2) use of the scroll 3) use of calligraphy 4) use of ink Japan Ceramics of Japan are the earliest known (perhaps as old as 10,000 BC). Japanese culture comes into clear focus during first centuries AD. Shinto is considered primary native Japanese religion; it is based on beliefof numerous nature deities shinto sacred symbols are a sword, a mirrorand a jewel. Asuka period (552 – 646 AD) profoundly transformed Japan because of: lasting acquisition of Buddhism along with influence of Chinese art and architecture. Heian period (794 – 1185 AD) during this period, Japan's capital moved from Nara to Kyoto; refined & sophisticated culture developed; most important art was poetry; Buddhism remained central to Japan. Samurai Culture: Kamakura period (1185 – 1392 AD) & Muromachi period (1392 – 1568 AD) a samurai is a regional warrior; a shogun is the commander-in-chief(shogun control weakened during the Muromachi period). During Muromachi period, a new type of Buddhism, Zen,reached Japan from China. Zen involves reaching personal enlightenment through meditation. Momoyama period (1568 – 1603 AD) This period is marked by a time of both "silence" & "splendor" for the arts. Edo period (1603 – 1868 AD) 1) During this period, "art for everyone" came into prominence; 2) the tradition of ink painting, Zen influence and veneration for nature continues; 3) the popularity of woodblock prints, a new form that made art available to all, is considered one of the greatest artistic events of this period; 4) Japanese prints were of huge consequence and inspiration in Europe. Arts of the Pacific and of the Americas Pacific Cultures Includes Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, Easter Island, Hawaii and thousands of islands grouped as Oceania ("lands of the ocean"). Around 50,000 years ago, Australia was settled by people (known as Aborigines) from Southeast Asia. Among the first islands to be settled (around 1,500 BC) were to the east of New Guinea. The last islands settled were the widely scattered islands of Polynesia, the easternmost cultural region of Oceania that includes Hawaii (settled around 500 AD) and New Zealand (settled between 800-1200AD). Aboriginal art is intimately connected with the religious belief known as "dreamtime" (or dreaming); its central idea is the connection with the distant past, whenancestral beings emerge from the earth. As in Africa, masks and masquerades play important roles in many Pacific cultures. Masks are used to materialize spirit beings. Among the most well known works of the Pacific are the monumental figures of Easter inland (the most remote & isolated island of Polynesia). There have been about 1,000 of these statuesfound and the average height is about 36 feet. Polynesian peoples believed that certain materials were sacred to the gods, especially feathers. In Hawaii, usually high-ranking men wore long, "majestic" feather cloaks. These cloaks embody ideas about the orderof society, gender roles, the continuing presenceof ancestors, and the protective powers of the gods. The Americas Evidence of human presence atthe tip of South America has been dated to about 11,000 years ago, indicating that by then both continents were populated. By 3,000 BC, we can identify developed cultures in three important centers: the Northwest Coast of North America, thefertile plateaus and coastal lowlands of Mesoamerica, andthe Pacific Coast of South America. Mesoamerica Mesoamerica describes a region that extends from the north of the Valley of Mexico (present-day Mexico City) through the western portion of modern Honduras. Mesoamerica is a cultural and historical designation as well as a geographical one. The civilizations that arose in the region shared many features, including: 1) harvest of corn 2) the building of pyramids 3) a 260-day calendar 4) similar deities 5) an important ritual ball game 6) a belief in the role of human blood in sustaining the gods and the universe Olmec civilization (flourished between about 1,500 and 300 BC) is often called the "mother culture" of Mesoamerica Olmec leaders, immortalized as colossal head sculptures, may have derived their power by claiming ability as shamans. A few centuries after the decline of the Olmecs, the city of Teotihuacán, located to the northeast of present-day Mexico City, began its rise to prominence. At its height,between 350 and 650 AD, Teotihuacán was one of the largestcities of the world. Pyramids, as Mesopotamia ziggurats, were understood as mountains. A deity shared by Mesoamerican civilizations is Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent god of windstorms that brings rain. Maya civilization (height of empire was between 250 to 900 AD) developed the most sophisticated versionof the Mesoamerican calendar and the most advanced ofthe region's writing systems. The Maya were not a single state but a culture with many centers. Human sacrifice and bloodletting rituals were thought necessary to sustain the gods and maintain the universe. It was a method of communicating with the spirits and gods. Aztecs settled in Tenochtitlán during the 13th century. By 1500 AD, Aztecs power reached its height. Masks and feather work had a long historyin Mesoamerica. Aztecs collected masks (especially jade masks carved by the Olmecs). Aztecs were the most powerful culture in the region at the time of the Spanish conquests of the early 1500s. South America In South America (in th central Andes region on the Pacific coast),several cultures developed. Pyramids, temple platforms, and other monuments have been found dating to the third millennium BC (contemporary with the pyramids of Egypt). Among the first South American peoples toleave much art were the Moche on the largecoastal area at the north end of the Andes. Thousands of Moche ceramics have been found. One of their great innovations was the use of molds for mass production. One of the most spectacular archaeological sites in the world is the Inca city of Machu Picchu in Peru. It is set high in the Andes Mountains. By 1,500 AD, Inca rule extended for some 3,400 miles along the Pacific Coast. Incan artists excelled in stonework, textiles, sculptures and objects of silver& gold. North America We do not know much about early North American art because their arts & artifacts seem to havve been made from perishable materials such as wood & fiber. Many arts of later North American peoplesare arts functional arts of everyday life: portable objects such as baskets, clothing, and tools rich with meanings that go far beyond their practical functions. Tobacco was considered a sacred substanceby many North American peoples. In North America, smoking tobacco became viewed as a form of prayer. The first clearly identifiable culture group of North America populated an area known as the Eastern Woodlands starting about 700 BC. This area includes parts of Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. This culture was basedon a settled way of life. The Plains culture, such as the Lakota (formed around parts of the Dakotas) that were more nomadic. They organized their lives around the herds of buffalo that roamed the Great Plains. Buffalo hides were used not only for clothing but also for shelter in the form of covering for tents ("tepees") and as a surface on which Plains warriors recorded their battles. Plains costume included feathered headdresses (made from the tail feathers of eagles). The Anasazi people lived in the southwestern part of the continent (Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado). They had been present in the region from the first several centuries BC. The Mogollon people were a neighbor of the Anasazi. They lived primarily in the Mimbres Valley (in what is now New Mexico) between the 3rd & 12th centuriesAD. Pueblo cultures of the Southwest, such as Hopi and Zuni, acknowledged several supernatural beings called kachina. Masks, dolls, and dance played important roles in these cultures. Doll-sized versions kachina are made as educational playthings so that children may learn to identify and understand the numerous spirits. Masks are also danced by many peoples of the Pacific Northwest, including the Kwakiutl, who live along the southern coast of British Columbia. Art Styles for Final Visual Art Project: 1) Neo-Classicist 2) Romanticist 3) Realist 4) Impressionist 5) Surrealist 6) Abstract 7) Pop Artist TOP List of Sketchbook Assignments: (Please note, we may not complete all of the following projects. Please check with instructor.) 1) what is art? (and what is not) (written) 2) Representational Drawing 3) Abstract Drawing 4) Organic Line Drawing 5) Geometric Line Drawing 6) Overlapping Drawing 7) Scale Drawing 8) Motion Drawing 9) Implied Lines Drawing 10) Value Charts (2, crosshatching & "rubbing") 11) "Warm" Color Drawing 12) "Cool" color Drawing 13) Symmetrical Composition/Design Drawing 14) Asymmetrical Composition/Design Drawing 15) Radial Composition/Design Drawing 16) Sign or symbol that conveys a message 17) write about how you would improve this campus (if money were not an issue) (writing exercise) 18) superstition/lucky charm (writing exercise) 29) Business Façade and a BusinessCard Drawing 21) enlargement of the joker picture (grid Drawing) 22) Dada Drawing (manipulating the "American Gothic" reproduction) 23) the Symbolism of a (vivid) dream you have had (writing) 24) Surreal Drawing 25) random "doodle" that you elaborate upon 26) "Ism" in today's society, and why (written exercise) |
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