Essay About History Of Ancient Art Ancient And Major Works Of Art

A History of Ancient Art
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A History of Ancient Art Ancient to Gothic LESSON ONE [pic 1]Welcome to our online Art History course. During the next eighteen weeks, together, well have the opportunity to learn about many of the major works of art created during the history of the Western world. We will also be introduced to some of the most celebrated works created in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Our course spans an enormous time period ,from the Paleolithic Era to the end of the Gothic and, consequently, is too vast an amount of time to cover in great detail – even in eighteen weeks. We encourage you to do further research into the lives of artists or artistic periods that intrigue you, but please remember to keep up with your lesson assignments. What is Art? As you begin your first lesson, consider the question, “What is art and why have people created it throughout history?” This question has challenged scholars for centuries and is a difficult one to answer. The visual arts are considered to be a way in which people have communicated throughout time, mirroring the realities they experienced and expressing the ideas and feelings they had about them. Using their creativity and imagination, artists enrich the world for those around them and those who follow them. Their work nourishes us and teaches us about the common humanity we all share. Although artists have created work for many different reasons, the majority of them have felt driven to work with tremendous dedication. Rich or poor, greatly acclaimed or nearly forgotten, they all have felt an impulse to create art. By the end of this course, you will have an increased knowledge and appreciation for the artists we study and the historical periods in which they lived and worked. We hope this will lead you to a better understanding of what art is, why it is made, and what it means to you. Why do we study Art History? When we learn about art from the past, we gain insights into the cultures, lives, and thinking of the people who lived during each period. Such study makes those civilizations and their discoveries all the more vibrant and real to us today. Imagine exploring the culture of Ancient Egypt without looking at the painting, architecture, or sculpture of the time. To study Egypt without also learning about the pyramids, for example, would be much less intriguing, and seems almost impossible. As we continue our study, we begin to see an interconnection among the works from each period, how they related to the art done before  and how they influenced the art that developed after. Enjoying and understanding works of Art There are various ways we can approach a piece of art, to understand and judge its quality for ourselves. Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy that helps us do this by identifying three aesthetic qualities called the Emotional, Imitative, and Formal. Also, these can be known as the expressive, literal and design qualities of a work. Briefly, if our first reaction to the work is one of a strong mood or feeling, we say that the work is conveying the Emotional response. The painting, The Scream, (1893) by Edvard Munch, a Norwegian painter, strongly conveys this type of initial emotional impact. [pic 2]The Scream, Edvard Munch, 1893 The Imitational idea emphasizes the ability of an artwork to reproduce, “imitate,” or remind us of things in the actual world around us. The ability to represent objects in a realistic manner was traditionally considered to be of great importance if the artwork was to be considered “successful.” The painting, Still Life With Pottery Jars, (1630-40), by the Spanish painter Francisco de Zurbarán, demonstrates the artist’s ability to paint in a strongly realistic style. [pic 3]Still Life with Pottery Jars, Francisco de Zurbarán, Prado Museum, Madrid, Spain, c.1658–64  The Formalist approach to an image places importance on the way the work is organized and how its composition (shapes, lines, and textures) is arranged, to give it an overall unity. [pic 4]Composition in Gray and Light Brown, Piet Mondrian,1918 The painting, Composition in Gray and Light Brown, by Dutch artist Piet Mondrian (1918), is an example of such a work, with strong formal design elements of line and shape. Its useful to consider these theories when we look at works of art, since they can provide a way of beginning to understand and enjoy them. However, a painting can consist of all three qualities at once, since it can evoke an emotional response, be realistic, and have a definite, strong composition. Therefore, its often important to employ more than one of these ideas when we study a work. On the other hand, it might not be effective to analyze an abstract painting from the Imitational approach, since there may not be a recognizable subject in the work. Using Art Criticism and Aesthetics When we identify the aesthetic qualities in a piece of art work were using art criticism and we become art critics ourselves. In using this technique, we try to gather information from the artwork itself, through careful study. We do this by using the four steps below which will help us examine and better appreciate works of art. Description: Examine the literal qualities of the work (the subject) and how it is put together with shapes, colors, and so on. Analysis: How is the composition put together? Is it balanced or asymmetrical, and how are the colors used to create the overall effect? Interpretation: Try to identify the feelings or mood expressed in the work. Do the figures appear stiff or natural, and why do you think they were done in that way? Judgment: Remember, this is not an expression of your like or dislike of the work, but is rather a decision you make after careful examination . By doing this, it will become easier for you to decide if it is a successful work of art or not. Questions Discuss your reaction to each of the following works of art in terms of the Emotional, Imitational, or Formal qualities you see in them, or any combination of the three theories that are most striking to you. Describe your initial reactions to each work, and decide if you think the piece is effective in achieving what the artist set out to represent. Try to write at least 100 words for each answer. [pic 5][pic 6] 1. The Burning of the House of Lords and Commons, 1834, JMW Turner.

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“A History of Ancient Art” ReviewEssays.com. 10 2015. 2015. 10 2015 < "A History of Ancient Art." ReviewEssays.com. ReviewEssays.com, 10 2015. Web. 10 2015. < "A History of Ancient Art." ReviewEssays.com. 10, 2015. Accessed 10, 2015. Similar Essays Art History ART __-history, __-theory, __-world (Accounting for modern art with Dickie, Danto, and Weitz) Up until the twentieth century art theorists had consistently sought for a 2,716 Words  |  11 Pages Greek and Roman Art History Greek Empire (600 B.C 1 A.D) Doric Order- entasis- swelling of the columns -always used for largest temples -alternating triglyphs and metopes Ionic Order Ð- 460 Words  |  2 Pages History of the Ancient Olympic Games Andrew Blue Mrs. Harris 18 March 2005 World History 1 History of the Ancient Olympic Games The Ancient Greek Olympics were not only sporting events, 1,144 Words  |  5 Pages Art History Chavin de Huantar Chavin de Huantar was located in Peru and developed around 900 B.C. late in the Initial Period. At an elevation of 3,150 708 Words  |  3 Pages Ancient Greek Values Infused in Art There were three ideas and values that defined Greek culture; rationalism, idealism and humanism. These values were a large part of their society, infusing the 390 Words  |  2 Pages Art History World War I virtually severed artistic relations between America and Europe. Cultural interchange and patronage was interrupted by problems of social and political urgency, though 590 Words  |  3 Pages Ancient History - Evoultion of the Earth Ancient History - Evoultion of the Earth The Greek geographers of the later Roman period developed systematic calculations for the mapping and shaping of the 518 Words  |  3 Pages The Final Word on the History of Art The Final Word On the History of Art Neoclassical, Romanticism, Realism Introduction These three major periods each have very distinct differences, yet each is a 294 Words  |  2 Pages Similar Topics Purpose History Research Ancient Mesopotamia Ancient Egypt Slavery History History Cajun Cuisine Black history month High Quality Term Papers and Essays Join 349,000+ Other Members Get Better Grades Sign up © 2010–2020 ReviewEssays.com Browse Essays Join now! Login Support Site Map Privacy Policy Terms of Service Facebook