History
Introduction Art is a vital and persistent aspect of everyday life. But where, one might ask, does the artistic impulse originate? We can see that art is inborn to us humans, just by observing things, scenes and what goes on around us; humans have the ability to draw something we see through our eyes before we even learn how to read or write. Children are one of the examples of having an unconscious artistic impulse by a human being, they trace images in dirt or sand, and decorate just about anything to their faces to the walls of their houses. They spontaneously make mud pies and snowmen. If given a pile of building blocks, they usually attempt to stack one on top of another to make a tower or just about anything they want. All of these efforts to create order from disorder and form from formlessness. While it may be difficult to relate a Greek temple to a childs sand castle, these two different but same form of art; expresses the same natural impulse of humans to create and build. As an adult, creating art is a continuation and development of the childs inborn impulse. But now it takes a new meaning. One powerful motive for making art is the wish to leave behind after death a product of value by which to be remembered. The role of art as a memorial is the wish to preserve ones image after death. According to Leon Battista Alberti, the fifteenth century Italian humanist, “Painting makes absent men present and the dead seem alive.” What Alberti said is true in every aspect of life and death when it comes to art, that paintings, murals, sculptures, photographs or any other form of art, starts with life and ends with death. Artists value their works deeply. “I paint to preserve the likeness of people after their death.” says Albrecht Durer, a sixteenth century German artist. Even as the early as the neolithic era (C. 7060-4550/4000 B.C.)
skulls were modeled into faces with plaster and shells were inserted into the eye sockets. In ancient Egypt, the pharaohs features were painted on the outside of his mummy case so that his ka, or soul, could recognized him. And gold death masks of kings have been discovered from the Mycenaean civilization of ancient Greece (c. 1500 B.C.) Patrons prefer more monumental tributes from every civilization. For example, the Egyptian rulers (3000-1000 B.C.) spent years planning and overseeing the construction of pyramids, not only in the belief that such monumental tombs would guarantee their existence in the afterlife, but also as a statement of their power while on earth. These civilizations obviously wants to preserve life as it is, so they built pyramids, tombs, and other form of building to shelter their culture. To embody their intellectual and creative achievements of their civilization and to preserve them for future generations. Art is not only valued by the artist or patrons, It is also valued by an entire culture. In fact, those periods of history that we tend to identify as the high points of human achievements are those works of art that are most highly valued. Most art I believe readily fits into the category of reflecting the culture of its time. As stated, this is what makes art history so interesting. The example of the historical artworks in the Western civilization is important in the idea of reflection, as much of what we know today about our culture is through interpreting the artworks left behind. Culture is a reference point to many artists creating work; art trends or current social issues often drive an artist to create their work and value it as much as possible.