Art History
Chapter 3 ArtTalk Textbook
What is art history?
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Art history is the record
of art from past to present
Ever since there have
been human beings, there
has been art – paintings,
drawings, sculptures, and
decorative objects.
Art tells us what people in
the past were like – what
their culture was like their beliefs, ideas, and
the way they lived.
How to study art history
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There is a four step
system similar to the
four steps used in art
criticism.
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Description
Analysis
Interpretation
Judgment
However, this time,
each of these steps is
approached differently.
Mary Cassatt. Reine Lefevre and Margot. c. 1902. Pastel on paper. The Armand Hammer Museum
of Art and Cultural Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Description
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In the description step, you are
collecting facts about the
artwork.
If you are looking at the actual
artwork, you would look for the
artist’s signature and the date of
the work.
If you are looking at a picture of
the artwork, you look at the
credit line. This will tell you the
name of the artist, the title of the
piece, the date the artwork was
done, the medium used, the size
of the work, and where the work
is currently located.
Sir Jacob Epstein, The Visitation. 1926 (cast 1955). Bronze. 66” H x 19” W x 17½” D.
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
Gift of Joseph Hirshhorn, 1966.
Analysis
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In the analysis step, you look at
the artist’s style.
An artist’s style is as individual
and unique as his handwriting.
No two people have exactly the
same handwriting, and no two
artists have exactly the same style.
Individual style is the artist’s
personal way of using the
elements of art and the
principles of design to express
feeling and ideas.
Think about how you know a
painting was done by Monet, or
Van Gogh, or Matisse, or Jackson
Pollock. Their individual styles
are so unique as to be instantly
recognizable.
Claude Monet, Water Lilies II,1908.
Jackson Pollack
Interpretation
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In this step, you will need to
research a little to find out how
time and place affected an artist’s
style.
For example, Alice Neel was an
American artist who was born in
1900. She painted people that she
was interested in instead of
traditional portraiture. She did
not follow any art movements or
styles. This is reflected in her
unique style. Once you see her
images, you can easily recognize
her paintings through her
individual style.
Alice Neel, Dana Gordon. 1972.
Judgment
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This is another step where you
have to research the artist. Did
this work introduce a new style?
Or, is it an outstanding example of
an existing style?
For example, Alice Neel is
considered by art historians to be
a great American portrait painter.
Her painting Faith Ringgold is of
an important American artist who
made “story quilts”. Faith
Ringgold is the epitome of Alice
Neel’s work, so yes this piece is
an outstanding example of Alice
Neel’s unique style.
Alice Neel, Faith Ringgold. 1977. Oil on canvas. 48 x 36 in (121.9 x 91.4
cm). Corporate collection, Texas
Art History
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Art has been around for as long as
man has been around. Humans
have a compulsion to create art –
either to communicate or to
decorate.
We will be looking at art history
in very general terms. In other
words, we are not going to go into
great detail for every period in art.
We will try to hit the high spots so
you have a general overview of
art history.
Leonardo da Vinci, The Mona Lisa, c. 1503-1506. Oil
on poplar. 77 x 53 cm, 30 x 21”. Musee du
Louvre, Paris, France.
Palmer Hayden, The Janitor Who Paints, c. 1937.
Oil on Canvas. 99.4 x 83.5 cm (39 ½ x 32 ¼
“). National Museum of American Art,
Washington DC
Prehistoric Cultures
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In the Altamira Caves in Spain, an
amateur archaeologist excavated this
low roof cave for 4 years before his
daughter who was small enough to
stand up straight in the cave looked
up and discovered these paintings of
sleeping, galloping, and crouching
animals.
These cave paintings date back to
15,000 BC
We have no real idea what the
purpose of the paintings is. We know
they aren’t decorative because they
are deep inside the caves, and on the
ceilings. The paintings may have
been part of the hunting ritual, part of
a religious-type of ritual, or maybe
just to celebrate a successful hunt.
Altamira Cave Painting, Spain.
Ancient River Valley Civilizations
Ancient Egypt
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Ancient Egypt developed along the
banks of the Nile River 3000 years
B.C.
Religion was a huge influence.
Pharaohs (rulers) were worshipped as
gods. The famous pyramids of Egypt
were built as tombs for the pharaohs.
Egyptians believed in life after death
and prepared for living in the afterlife.
Egyptian artists followed strict rules
to decorate temples and tombs.
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Each part of body had to be shown
from the most visible angle. This is
why you see the heads, arms, legs,
and feet in profile while the shoulders
and eyes are seen from a frontal view.
Scenes from the life of the person
being buried were depicted.
Size indicated social hierarchy.
Ancient River Valley Civilizations
Mesopotamia
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Mesopotamia was the fertile
crescent of land between the
Tigris and Euphrates river.
The first important group in
the area were the Sumerians
(around 2700 B.C.)
Sumerians were the first
people to have a system of
writing called cuneiform,
made up of wedge-shaped
characters.
Sumerian artwork was more
realistic than the Egyptians.
Ancient River Valley Civilizations
China
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Ancient China was in the
Yellow River valley
This is the oldest continuous
culture in the history of the
world.
History of China until
modern times was divided
into dynasties. A dynasty
was a period of time during
which a single family
provided a succession of
rulers. The first dynasty
was the Shang dynasty
around 1300 B.C.
Ancient River Valley Civilizations
India
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Ancient India was located in
the Indus River valley.
The culture of ancient India
has been discovered to date
back as far as 2500 B.C.
A city called Mohenjo-Daro
was a major commercial
center with large blocks,
multi-storied houses of fired
brick and wood, and
elaborate drainage systems.
Art of Asia
India (300 B.C. to A.D. 1200)
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The art of India has been strongly
influenced by the Hindu and Buddhist
religions.
Buddhism was predominant from 300
B.C. to 50 A.D.
Hinduism became dominant after that.
Hinduism has three primary processes
in life and in the universe, each
represented by a god.
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Creation – Brahma, the Creator is the
god.
Preservation – Vishnu, the Preserver
is the god.
Destruction – Shiva, the Destroyer is
the god.
India exported its religions to the rest
of Asia
Art of Asia
China (300 B.C. to modern times)
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China adopted Buddhism during Han
dynasty (206 B.C. to A.D. 220) that
stressed the oneness of human beings
with nature.
Chinese artists found that long
periods of meditation enabled them to
perceive the beauty of an object or
scene, and enabled them to capture
that beauty in their painting.
Paintings were on scrolls of
parchment or silk.
Sculpture was for religious purposes
and to honor the dead.
During the Sung dynasty, porcelain
objects were made of fine-grained
white clay called kaolin.
Work in porcelain reached its high
point during the Ming dynasty.
Art of Asia
Japan
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Japan also adopted
Buddhism as its major
religion.
Until the end of 9th
century, Japanese artists
copied art styles of China
and other Asian countries.
Japanese artists developed
a unique style of
printmaking and painting,
including the woodcut
print.
Art of Greece and Rome
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Greece was the birthplace of Western civilization.
The Greeks built temples in honor of their gods. The
most outstanding example is the Parthenon.
The Greeks believed in a logical, harmonious world.
They sought perfect proportion in everything (building,
sculpture and music) by following formulas.
Originally statues were painted – the Greeks loved
color. All we see now is the white of the marble.
Art of Greece and Rome
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The Romans conquered Greece in 146
B.C. but instead of imposing their culture
on Greece, the Romans adopted Greek
culture for their own. They had previously
adopted Etruscan culture when they
conquered Italy. As a result, Roman
culture is a blend of the ideal Greek
philosophy and the practical Etruscan arts
(system of drainage and improved use of
the arch).
The Romans continued to improve their
adopted cultures – they used the arch and
concrete to build large scale structures,
developed beautiful interior decorations,
excellent roads, and realistic rather than
idealized sculpture.
The Romans were not concerned with
Greek ideas of perfection. They wanted
realistic, accurate portraits of people.
Art of Greece and Rome
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When Roman emperor
Constantine legalized
Christianity during the 4th
century, Christians were
able to build their own
churches (based on Roman
design).
Interiors of these churches
were decorated with
mosaics (pictures made by
arranging small pieces of
colored glass or tile in a
grout mixture).
Art of Greece and Rome
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Another style of art
developed in the eastern part
of the Roman empire was
called Byzantine art (named
after the city Byzantium).
This style blended Greek,
Roman, and Asian styles,
had a religious theme, and
used very rich colors and
figures that were flat and
stiff.
Art of the Middle Ages in Europe
Romanesque
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The Middle Ages began with the conquest
of Rome in 476. The Christian religion
became a dominant force at this time in
Europe. Life was now centered around
churches. The churches grew in size and
political importance.
During this time, new churches were built
in the Romanesque style. These churches
were massive in size, had solid, heavy
walls made possible by the support of the
Roman arch, and had many sculptural
decorations.
Up until this time, buildings could not be
very large because there was no way to
support the weight of the roof and the
walls. The development of the Roman
arch allowed buildings (especially
churches) to get larger and allow more
people to congregate, thus increasing the
power of the church even more.
Art of the Middle Ages in Europe
Gothic
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In the twelfth century, people moved from the
country to the city. Guilds (the forerunners of
unions) were formed, and apprentices learned
their craft from the masters.
During this time, a wealthy middle class sprung
up. Now there are three classes – upper, middle
and lower.
Two new developments freed up architecture –
the pointed arch and the flying buttress. These
two innovations supported the weight of the
walls and roof even more than the Roman arch.
Now churches could soar upward and windows
could be added.
Gothic builders changed the light by using
stained glass windows.
Art was dictated by the Church. The only art at
this time was religious art that commemorated
Christian themes.
Sculpture and painting during the Gothic period
started becoming less stylized, more realistic.
Egg tempera was used for painting at this time.
This was before the development of oil paint.
Art of the Middle Ages in Europe
Renaissance
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In the fifteenth century, the printing press and exploration of the Americas and the Pacific opened up the world. Gone were the dark days of the
Middle Ages. Renaissance is a term given to the period of awakening at the end of the Middle Ages.
The Renaissance was a time of complete change in the way life was looked at. Kings and church were no longer at the top of the food chain – they
were replaced by bankers and merchants.
Art changed during the Renaissance – it was no longer limited to just the Church. Religious art was still a primary source of art, but now art was
commissioned by private individuals. Subject matter expanded from religious subjects to portraiture, still lifes, and every day life.
The Renaissance focused on reviving the classical art of Greece and Rome as well as studying the natural world around us. Realism was the ultimate
goal for both people and objects depicted. In order to achieve this realism, architect Filippo Brunelleschi developed a technique based on geometry
called linear perspective. Linear perspective is a graphic system that creates the illusion of depth and volume on a flat surface.
The most famous of the Renaissance artists were Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael.
Oil painting was invented during the Renaissance. Oil painting allowed artists to work on fine detail while the paint was still wet.
Leonardo da Vinci, The Last Supper. C. 1495-1498. Tempera on gesso, pitch, and mastic. 460 x 880 cm, 181 x 346 in. Santa
Maria delle Grazie, Milan, Italy.
Art of Islam
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Muhammad was born in Mecca in 570.
He taught that there was only one god,
Allah, and his followers were called
Muslims. His teachings became the holy
scriptures called the Koran, and the name
of the religion became Islam.
Islamic art is the art of the Muslim world
and is used to decorate the mosques
(Muslim places of worship). Art
depicting people or animals was not
permitted in mosques, but could be and
was used in illustrating books.
Islamic art in the mosques was decorative
– ornate calligraphy (beautiful writing),
geometric patterns, and stylized plants
and flowers.
Book illustrations depicted people and
animals in everyday scenes such as
banquets, hunting scenes, and romantic
stories.
Art of Native Americans
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Prior to Columbus and the
Europeans arriving in America in
1492, the people of North,
Central, and South America had
well-organized civilizations.
There were over 20 million
people living in 2000 different
groups. Each group had its own
unique language, traditions, rituals
and art forms.
Any culture before the Europeans
(Columbus) arrived is referred to
as pre-Columbian. As you can
imagine, this part of art history
covers a wide variety and function
of art depending on which of the
2000 cultures you are looking at.
Art of Europe
17th Century
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The Renaissance opened up learning in all areas
as well as encouraging many new and major
developments in exploration and scientific
discoveries. As a result, as we move into the
17th century, we can see the impact of the
inventions such as the microscope and the
telescope. A new worldview is emerging and is
reflected in the arts. Learning, discovery, and
exploration are moving faster and are happening
in every direction – science, math, literature,
theater, visual arts.
The Baroque art style is a new movement in art
that is reflecting this changing culture.
Baroque art emphasized movement, strong
value contrast, and variety. Forms and figures in
Baroque art turn, twist and spiral into space.
Baroque artists refined perspective to the point
they could make figures seem to move off the
canvas toward the viewer. They opened up the
picture plane into infinity. There are no more
limits in space – the picture plane is no longer
flat, it now appears to be completely threedimensional.
In addition to movement, the Baroque artists
used dramatic lighting effects with dark,
mysterious shadows, and brightly lit areas.
Michelangelo, La Pieta. 1499. Marble.
174 x 195 cm, 68.5 x 76.8 in. St.
Peter’s Basilica, Rome, Italy.
Rembrandt van Rijn, Titus, the
Artist’s son. C. 1657. Oil on
canvas. 55 x 67 cm (21.7 x
26.4”). Wallace Collection,
Michelangelo, The Sistine Chapel
(detail).
Peter Paul Rubens, The Adoration of the
Magi. 1624. Oil on canvas. 447
by 336cm (15 by 11 feet).
Koninklijk Museum voor Schone
Kunsten in Antwerp, Belgium.
Art of Europe
18th Century
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The Baroque art movement
of the 17th century morphed
into a more relaxed style in
the 18th century called
Rococo.
Rococo stressed free
graceful movement, a
playful use of line, and
delicate colors.
Rococo art was used to
decorate the homes of the
French aristocracy, and
depicted their luxurious and
carefree lifestyles (preMarie Antoinette)
The Basilica at Ottobeuren (Bavaria)
Thomas Gainsborough, The Mall in St. James Park. 1783. Oil on
canvas. 147 x 120 cm. The Frick Collection, New York,
NY.
Art of Europe
19th Century
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Life changes faster and faster as we move
ahead in time. The industrial revolution and
the democratic revolutions (including the U.S.
and French revolutions) in the late 18th
century brought about even newer and faster
ways of life, which was reflected in art as
well.
Some of the new styles of art were a rebellion
against what had gone before in art.
Now instead of a new style for the century, we
start seeing movements in art happening either
simultaneously, or in rapid succession
The major new movements in the 19th century
were Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Realism,
Impressionism, and Post-Impressionism.
Neoclassicism
Romanticism
Jacques-Louis David, The Oath of the
Horatii. C 1784-1785. Oil on
canvas. 4.27 x 3.35 m. (14 x 11 ft).
Louvre, Paris.
Realism
Rosa Bonheur, The Horse Fair. 1853-55. Oil on canvas.
244.5 x 506.7 cm (96 ¼ x 199 ½”). The
Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.
Impressionism
Post-Impressionism
Thomas Eakin, Alice Kurtz. 1903.
Fogg Art Museum, Harvard
University. Cambridge,
Massachusetts.
Paul Gauguin, Paysanes Paysannes bretonnes (Breton peasant women).
1894. Oil on canvas. 26 x 36 1/4 in. (66 x 92 cm). Musee
d'Orsay. Paris, France.
Edgar Degas, The Dance Class. 1873-1876. Oil
on canvas.
Art of Europe - 19th Century
Neoclassicism
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The French revolution abandoned
the Rococo style since it mirrored
the life of the aristocracy.
Academies replaced the apprentice
system. Academies were strict
“schools” of art that taught all
aspects of art. The natural place to
start was the classic art styles of
Greece and Rome, hence the name
“Neoclassic” (new classic).
Neoclassicism was severely
realistic and unemotional.
An outstanding example of
Neoclassic art The Death of
Socrates by Jacques Louis David,
Jacques Louis David, The Death of Socrates. 1787. Oil on canvas. 51 x 77 1/4 in. (129.5 x
196.2 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.
Art of Europe - 19th Century
Romanticism
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Romanticism was a reaction to
the unemotional Neoclassicism.
Romanticists disliked the many
rules and the lack of emotion in
Neoclassicism.
Romanticists painted emotional
scenes of action using brilliant
colors to emphasize the feeling of
the art work.
Romanticists believed the artist’s
personal impression of an event
was more interesting than an
accurate, historical report.
Rosa Bonheur’s The Horse Fair is
a good example of the
Romanticism movement.
J. W.M. Turner, The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons, 16th October.
1834-1835. Oil on canvas. 92 x 123 cm. Philadelphia Museum of Art
Rosa Bonheur, The Horse Fair. 1853-55. Oil on canvas. 244.5 x 506.7 cm (96 ¼ x 199 ½”). The
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY.
Art of Europe - 19th Century
Realism
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The Realists rejected the rules of
Neoclassicism and the drama of
the Romanticists in favor of real
life. The Realists portrayed
familiar scenes as they actually
were.
The Realists felt that they should
portray political, social and moral
issues.
Francisco de Goya was a Spanish
artist who portrayed the ugly truth
of war during the Spanish
Revolution.
The American artist, Thomas
Eakins painted every day scenes
realistically.
Francisco de Goya, The Shootings of May Third 1808. 1814. Oil on
canvas. 104 3/4 x 136 in. Museo del Prado, Madrid
Thomas Eakins, The Agnew Clinic. 1889. Oil on canvas. 84 3/8 x 118 1/8
inches. University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Art of Europe - 19th Century
Impressionism
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While the Realists were busy looking at
the real world, another group called the
Impressionists also looked at the world
around them.
The Impressionists took their studios
outside so they could capture the effects
of color and light. They were more
interested in reflected light than in
realistic form.
Impressionism captured everyday
subjects and emphasized the momentary
effects of sunlight.
Foremost among the Impressionists were
Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, and
Auguste Renoir.
Monet, Claude, Impression, soleil levant
Impression, Sunrise. 1872. Oil on
canvas. 48 x 63 cm (19 x 24 3/8").
Musee Marmottan, Paris, France.
Claude Monet
Paintings of the same cathedral under
different light and weather
conditions.
Art of Europe - 19th Century
Impressionism
Pierre-Auguste Renoir, The Luncheon of the Boating Party.
1881. Oil on canvas. 129.5 x 172.7 cm (51 x 68 in.).
The Phillips Collection, Washington
Berthe Morisot, At the Ball, 1875. Musee Marmottan Monet.
Paris, France.
Edouard Manet, The Fifer. 1866. Oil on canvas. 63 x 38
1/2 in. (161 x 97 cm). Musee d'Orsay, Paris.
Mary Cassatt, Portrait of a Little Girl. 1878. Oil on canvas. 89.5 x
129.8 cm. National Gallery of Art, Washington
Art of Europe - 19th Century
Post-Impressionism
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Some of the Impressionist artists
became dissatisfied and wanted their art
to become more meaningful. Others
wanted more feelings, intuitions and
ideas in their art. Still others wanted
more structure and form. These artists
became known as the PostImpressionists.
Post-Impressionism was not a unified
movement. Post-Impressionism better
describes a time period in the latter part
of the nineteenth century than a particular
style of art. The artists had very little in
common with one another except for the
time period in which they lived.
The Post-Impressionists each expanded
his or her style to create something so
unusual that each style led to important
developments in art during the 20th
Century.
Post-Impressionist artists include Henri
Toulouse-Lautrec, Berthe Morisot, Mary
Cassatt, Paul Cezanne, Vincent van
Gogh, and Paul Gauguin.
Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, In Bed. 1893.
Berthe Morisot, Peasant Hanging out the Washing. 1881. Oil on canvas. 18 x 26 1/4"
(46 x 67 cm). Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen
Art of Europe - 19th Century
Post-Impressionism
Mary Cassatt, Summertime. c. 1894.
Oil on canvas. 100.7 x 81.3 cm.
Terra Foundation for the Arts
Mary Cassatt, The Banjo Lesson. 1893/94. Pastel over
oiled pastel on tan wove paper. 72.2 x 58.6
cm. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond
Mary Cassatt, Lady at the Tea Table. 1883. Oil
on canvas. 73.4 x 61 cm. Metropolitan
Museum of Art, New York
Paul Cezanne, Still Life with Plate of Cherries. 1885-87. Oil on canvas.
22 /78 x 27" (58.1 x 68.9 cm). Los Angeles County Museum of
Art.
Paul Cezanne, Portrait of Gustave Geffroy.
1895. Oil on canvas. 45 5/8 x 35 in.
Collection Mr. and Mrs. Rene Lecomte.
Paris, France.
Paul Cezanne, Well: Millstone and Cistern Under
Trees (Meule et citerne sous bois). 1892. Oil on
canvas. 25 5/8 x 31 7/8 in. (65 x 81 cm). The
Barnes Foundation, Merion, Pennsylvania
Art of Europe - 19th Century
Post-Impressionism
Vincent Van Gogh, Entrance to the Public Garden in Arles.
1888. Oil on canvas. 72.5 x 91 cm (28 1/2 x 35 3/4
in.). The Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C.
Paul Gauguin, Portrait of the Artist with
the Idol. c. 1893. Oil on canvas.
17 1/4 x 12 7/8 in. (43.8 x 32.7
cm). McMay Art Museum. San
Antonio, TX.
Vincent Van Gogh, The Starry Night. 1889. Oil on canvas. 29
x 36 1/4 in. The Museum of Modern Art, New York
Paul Gauguin, Femmes de Tahiti OR Sur la plage (Tahitian Women
OR On the Beach). 1891. Oil on canvas. 27 1/8 x 35 7/8
in. (69 x 91 cm). Musee d'Orsay, Paris
Vincent Van Gogh, Wheat Field Under Threatening Skies. 1890. Oil on canvas. 50.5 x 100.5 cm.
Vincent van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
Art of Africa
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The art of Africa is as varied as
the one thousand cultures
consisting of millions of people.
Most African art in museums
dates only from the last century
because the damp climate has
destroyed many of the wooden or
fabric pieces.
A few metal sculptures dating
back to the 16th century from the
Benin kingdom show an
outstanding command of metalcasting techniques.
SONGYE Figure. Zaire. Wood, metal, and
feathers. 44 1/4 in. (112.5 cm) high.
Collection J.W. Mestach, Brussels
YOMBE Fetish. Zaire. Wood and mixed media.
23 3/8 in. (59.5 cm) high. Musee Royal
de l'Afrique Centrale. Tervuren,
Belgium .
Art of Africa
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The arts of Africa are interwoven into the
religious life and everyday lives of the many
nations, kingdoms and culture groups.
Everything artistic also serves a functional
purpose – ceremonial canes, combs for hair,
stools, chairs, pipes, and spoons.
Weaving is widespread. Everyday weaving is
done by the women, while the ceremonial
weavings such as Kente cloth are reserved for
the men alone to do.
Sculpture is regarded as one of Africa’s greatest
contributions to the world’s cultural heritage.
African sculpture inspired the development of
Cubism in Europe in the 20th century.
African wood carvings include figures and
masks. The figures are ancestral figures, power
figures, and funeral figures. They have
proportions that reflect cultural concepts rather
than realism, and an enlarged head indicates its
importance as the center of reason and wisdom.
Yoruba bronze head sculpture from the city
of Ife, Nigeria c. 12th century A.D.
SONGYE Kifwebe Mask. Zaire. Painted
wood. 24 3/4 in. (63 cm) high.
Private collection
20th Century Art
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20th century art changed so
rapidly and in so many directions,
it’s difficult to pinpoint all the
movements or even define a
movement any more. Some
artists were involved in several
movements in their lifetime.
European art moved in three
general directions:
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William de Kooning, Whose Name Was Writ in Water
Expressing emotions
Emphasized structure and
composition
Stressed imagination and
dreamlike inventions
Artists experimented with
anything and everything in the
20th century
Piet Mondrian, Broadway Boogie Woogie. 1942-1943.
Oil on canvas. 50 x 50 in. (127 x 127 cm). The
Museum of Modern Art, New York
20th Century Art
Fauvism
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Fauvism was a movement at the
beginning of the 20th century
characterized by the use of
brilliant colors, bold distortions,
and loose brushstrokes.
Fauve is French for “wild beasts”
The Fauves continued the
expressive ideas of Van Gogh and
Gauging.
Henri Matisse was the leader of
this movement. He was
concerned with expressing the
feeling he had for life. He
insisted that his work had one
purpose – to give pleasure.
Henri Matisse, Femme au manteau violet (Woman in a
Purple Coat). 1937. Oil on canvas. 37 7/8 x
25 11/16 in. Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Andre Derain, The Turning Road, L'Estaque. 1906. Oil on canvas.
4 ft 2 1/2 in x 6 ft 4 1/2 in. Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
20th Century Art
Expressionism
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Expressionism was a
German movement in which
artists tried to communicate
strong emotional feelings.
Expressionism stressed
personal feelings rather than
composition.
Kathe Kollwitz was an
Expressionist who was
concerned with poverty and
war.
Edvard Munch, The Scream. 1893. Oil,
tempera and pastel on cardboard.
91 x 73.5 cm. National Gallery,
Oslo
Kathe Kollwitz, Selbstbildnis von vorn
(Self-Portrait from the Front).
1923. Woodcut. 15 x 15.6 cm
(image). Gift of Albert M.
Bender.
Kathe Kollwitz, Selbstbildnis mit der Hand
an der Stirn (Self-Portrait with Hand
on the Forehead). 1910. Etching.
15.5 x 13.8 cm (plate). California
State Library long loan.
20th Century Art
Cubism
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Cubism is a style that emphasizes
structure and design. It is an
attempt to put all dimensions onto
a flat surface at one time – to see
all points of view at the same
time.
Three things influenced the
Cubists:
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The idea that all shapes in nature
are based on geometric solids
The scientific discovery that
matter is made up of atoms that
are constantly in motion
The art of Africa – African
sculpture
Juan Gris, Portrait of Picasso. 1912. Oil
on canvas. 93.4 x 74.3 cm. (36 3/4 x 29
1/4 in.). The Art Institute of Chicago.
Joan Miro, The Farm (La masia).
Pablo Picasso, The Guitar Player. 1910.
20th Century Art
The Futurists
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The Futurists took
Cubism a step farther.
They placed lines and
shapes in a composition
to suggest motion.
Piet Mondrian was a
prime example. He
created nonobjective art
using only vertical and
horizontal black lines,
black, white and gray
rectangles, and the three
primary colors.
Piet Mondrian, New York City. 1941-42. Oil on
canvas. 119 x 114 cm (46 7/8 x 44 7/8 in). Musee
national d'art moderne, Centre Georges Pompidou,
Paris.
Piet Mondrian, Composition with Yellow, Blue
and Red. 1937-42. Oil on canvas. 72.5 x 69 cm
(28 1/2 x 27 1/8 in.). Tate Gallery, London
20th Century Art
Dadaism
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Dadaism introduced fantasy into their
subject matter. Dadaists used fantasy
to take aim at the culture they thought
had failed them.
Dadaism was a reaction to the
horrors of World War I. Basically,
artists felt that society with all its
rules was the cause of all the
bloodshed. World War I was
considered to be “an insane spectacle
of collective homicide” by the
Dadaists.
Dada is anti-art. It has no meaning.
It has no purpose. Ironically, it set the
stage for much of the 20th century art
to follow.
Some examples of Dadaism are a furlined teacup and a urinal.
Meret Oppenheim, Object (Le Déjeuner en fourrure). 1936. Teacup, saucer,
spoon, fur. Museum of Modern Art, New York.
Marcel Duchamp, Fountain. 1970. 60 cm tall. Readymade
porcelain urinal. Philadelphia Museum of Art.
20th Century Art
Surrealism
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Surrealism is another
movement similar to Dada
in philosophy, but not as
extreme.
Surrealism was a style in
which dreams, fantasy, and
the subconscious served as
inspiration for artists.
Surrealist art was very
realistic, almost
photographic, but not real
life at all.
Salvador Dali, The Persistence of Memory. 1931.
Salvador Dali, Nature Morte Vivante ( Still Life – Fast Moving) . 1956.
20th Century Art
Regionalism
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Regionalism was a
purely American art
movement that focused
on scenes in America.
Regionalists painted
farmlands and cities,
focusing on the vast
expanse, beauty,
productivity and
abundance of America.
Grant Wood, American Gothic American Gothic, 1930. Oil on
beaverboard. 74.3 x 62.4 cm. Friends of American Art
Collection, Chicago.
Thomas Hart Benton, The Sources of Country Music. 1975. Acrylic on canvas. 1.8 x 3 m (6 x 10’).
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Nashville, Tennessee.
20th Century Art
Mexican Muralists
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The Mexican Muralists were a
group of artists whose art
reflected their concerns about the
plight of common people.
They were called the Mexican
Muralists because they covered
walls and ceilings with murals
about Mexican history – the plight
of the peasants and the immoral
behavior of the ruling class.
David Siqueiros, Jose Clemente
Orozco, and Diego Rivera were
the three Mexican Muralists
Diego Rivera, Night of the Rich.
1928. Fresco. North wall,
Courtyard of the Fiestas, Ministry
of Education, Mexico City
David Alfaro Siqueiros, Echo of a Scream.
1937. Enamel on wood, 48 x 36" (121.9 x
91.4 cm). Gift of Edward M. M. Warburg.
Museum of Modern Art, New York.
Jose Clemente Orozco, The Dartmouth Mural. 1932 – 1934.
20th Century Art
Abstract Expressionism
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Abstract Expressionism
was one of the first art
movements to emerge after
World War II.
It was abstract because it
emphasized the elements of
art and principles of design
as its subject matter.
It was expressive because it
stressed feeling and
emotions rather than
planned design.
Jackson Pollack, Eyes in the Heat. 1946.
Willem de Kooning, Woman V. 1952-53.
20th Century Art
Pop and Op Art
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In the 1960’s, artists turned
to mass media, specifically
advertising for inspiration.
Pop artists portrayed
images of popular culture as
their subject matter. Two of
the most famous pop artists
were Andy Warhol and Roy
Lichtenstein.
Op artists liked to fool the
eye using scientific
knowledge to create optical
illusions of movement.
Pop Art
Andy Warhol, Marilyn.
Roy Lichtenstein, Drowning Girl. 1953.
Op Art
Bridget Riley, Movement in Squares. 1961.
20th Century Art
Color-Field Painting
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Color-Field Painting
focuses only on flat
fields of color.
Color-Field Painting is
color for the pure
sensation of color.
The most famous ColorField artist is Mark
Rothko. His color areas
have hazy edges that
seem to float in space.
Mark Rothko, Red on Maroon. 1959. Tate Collection,
London.
Mark Rothko, Earth and Green.
20th Century Art
New Realism
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Americans love to have
their art look like real life.
In the 20th century, realism
became less important with
the increasing popularity of
photography. However, we
still want our art to be
realistic. Realistic art in the
20th century is called
Photo-Realism, HyperRealism, and SuperRealism.
Andrew Wyeth and Duane
Hanson are famous
examples of Realist artists.
Andrew Wyeth, Hawk Mountain. 1961. Gift of Mr.
Halleck Lefferts
Andrew Wyeth, The Master’s Bedroom.
Meet the Artist
Lilla Cabot Perry
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Lilla Cabot Perry was a late 19th century who
captured the genteel world in turn-of-the-century
Boston.
Perry came from a socially prominent family,
was a scholar interested in all the arts – visual,
performance, writing, etc.
Perry went to Paris and studied in a French
academy and spent hours copying paintings of
the old masters at the Louvre.
She and her husband became friends with the
Monets (Claude Monet, the Impressionist), and
she introduced and promoted Impressionism in
Boston.
Her art combined the realism from her academy
training with Impressionism. She did portraits
during the first part of her career, but was later
able to turn to doing landscapes.
Lilla Cabot Perry’s career spanned a half a
century. She was very successful as an artist.
Perry was able to successfully combine being an
artist, a woman, a daughter, a mother, and a wife.
Lilla Cabot Perry was painting on the day she
died.
Lilla Cabot Perry, A Cup of Tea. Late 19th century or early
20th century. Oil on canvas. 31 1/2 x 25 1/2 in. (80.01 x 64.77
cm). Los Angeles County Art Museum.
Lilla Cabot Perry, Self Portrait.
1892. Bakersfield Art
Museum, Bakersfield,
California.
Lilla Cabot Perry, A Young
Violoncellist. 1892.
Oil on canvas. Museum
of Fine Arts, Boston.
Objective Assessment – Building
Vocabulary
Write the entire definition, then add the term that best matches the definition.
1. The artist’s personal way of using the elements of
art and principles of design to express feelings and
ideas.
2. A period of time during which a single family
provided a succession of rulers.
3. A style of art that used rich color and flat, still
figures and blended Greek, Roman, and Asian
styles.
4. A style of architecture in which churches soared
upwards, used pointed arches and had stained glass
windows.
5. The name given to the period of rebirth, or
awakening, at the end of the Middle Ages.
Objective Assessment – Building
Vocabulary
Write the entire definition, then add the term that best matches the definition.
6. A graphic system that creates the illusion of depth
and volume on a flat surface.
7. A 17th century art style that emphasized movement,
contrast, and variety.
8. An art style that captured everyday subjects and
emphasized the momentary effects of sunlight by
using broken brushstrokes.
9. An art style that stressed personal feelings rather
than composition.
10. A style of art in which dreams, fantasy, and the
subconscious served as inspiration.
Objective Assessment – Reviewing
Art Facts
Write the following questions and then the answer.
1. Name the four steps used by art historians to gain
information about a work of art.
2. In which step would you examine the style of the
work and decide if it fit into an art movement.
3. Select a painting shown in this chapter and list three
characteristics of the artist’s style.
4. Describe the rules that Egyptian artists were
required to follow when painting or sculpting a
relief figure.
5. How did the ancient Greek belief in a logical,
harmonious world affect the art that was produced?
Objective Assessment – Reviewing
Art Facts
Write the following questions and then the answer.
6. What effect did the Renaissance rebirth of interest
in the classical art of Greece and Rome have on the
art of that period?
7. Describe the difference between the art forms used
in an Islamic mosque and in Islamic book
illustration..
8. Name one similarity and one difference between the
artworks created by the Realists and the
Impressionists.
9. Describe the subject matter chosen by the Mexican
Muralists.