HW Assignment- Artistic Movement Research Essay (50 pts.)
Art Major I
Project Goal:
An “Artistic Movement” is defined as a group of artists who agree on general principles.
Throughout our history, artists have been coming together and creating work that reflects the
time period they were living in. Historians and art critics have categorized artwork into different
“movements” based on the style, time period, etc. Research three artistic movements from the
last several centuries (Western civilization, only), and write a short research essay following
the criteria listed in this handout. You will eventually choose one of your three movements as
the inspiration for your next project: your Dream Room.
Directions:
 Write 3 mini-essays, on different art movements.
o Choose one art movement from each time period in this table (3 art movements
in total):
Movements
(choose one from each time period)
 Romanticism
 Hudson River School
 Realism
 Impressionism
1800-1900
 Post Impressionism
 Fauvism / Expressionism
 Early Modernism
 Cubism
1900-1940
 Futurism
 Surrealism
 Harlem Renaissance
 Abstract Expressionism
 Pop Art
1940- Present
 Op Art
 Postmodernism
Time Period

Description
Imagery starts out as
mostly realistic and
traditional, and evolves to
become more stylized and
expressionistic
Subject matter is broken
down into basic elements,
and becomes more
abstracted and conceptual
Artists began pushing the
envelope even more and
rebelling against all
previous traditions
Criteria for each mini-essay:
o Minimum of one page typed, double-spaced, 12 pt. font, 1” margins
o You do NOT need to include citations or sources!
 Make sure the information you find on the Internet is viable and true (you
will be docked points for inaccurate information).

Do not simply cut/paste information. You must change the wording so it is
in your own words. If you copy/paste, that’s plagiarism.
o Include 4 paragraphs; write at least 4 complete sentences per paragraph!
o Use this table as a guide for structuring each essay. Be sure to include all
information in the order it is listed in this table:
Paragraph
#1
#2
Information






#3




#4


Name of the art movement
The movement’s time and place in history
What was going on in the world at that time? Did it influence the
development of this artistic style? If yes, how? If no, why not?
What did the artwork look like?
How can you identify a piece of artwork from this movement? (i.e.
similar subject matter, colors, style, brush strokes, etc.)
Name at least three artists who are pioneers of the movement
(you may use artists from the attached handout)
Provide at least one example of artwork from each artist. Include
the title of the artwork
Copy/paste images of each artwork into the document (can be on
a separate page). Print in color!!!
Why did you choose to research this movement?
List at least two ways you could use inspiration from this
movement in your dream room (i.e. style of furniture, color
scheme, etc.)
After learning more about this movement, does it inspire you? Do
you like the artwork? Why or why not?
Proofread each essay!!! Check for spelling, grammar, and syntax
Ask someone you trust (like a parent, English teacher, or peer who is a good
reader/writer) to read your paper and proofread for errors before submitting.
Example Mini-Essay:
Here is an example of how to follow the criteria listed above for each mini-essay. I used the
Renaissance period for my art movement, which occurred before the time period we are
researching, but the way I’ve structured the information is similar to how your essays should
look:
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly from the 14th to the
17th century, beginning in Italy in the late Middle Ages, and later spreading to the rest of
Europe. It was a cultural advance from the Dark Ages, when Europe started to thrive again
after centuries of religious persecution and disease. Historians often suggest this intellectual
transformation was a bridge between the Middle Ages and the Modern era. Although the
Renaissance saw revolutions in many intellectual pursuits, as well as social and political
upheaval, it is perhaps best known for its artistic developments and the contributions of
inventors and artists like architect Brunelleschi and artist Leonardo da Vinci.
One of the distinguishing features of Renaissance art was its development of highly
realistic linear perspective. The development of perspective was part of a wider trend towards
realism in the arts. Painters also developed other techniques such as studying light, shadow,
and, famously in the case of Leonardo da Vinci, the human anatomy. Da Vinci also
experimented with extreme light and shadow relationships, which is the earliest attempt on
record of Chiaroscuro, which is the treatment of light and shade in a drawing or painting.
Compositions were arranged by using various mathematical formulas to determine
measurement and accuracy. The color palette of most works was a bit muted. Bright, vibrant
colors were not often used in this time period because mixing the pigments was quite
expensive. Subject matter was fairly straight-forward and realistic.
Leonardo da Vinci is a jack-of-all trades who is most famous for his paintings during
this period of time. However, besides being a painter, he was also a sculptor, architect,
musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer,
botanist, and writer. He is most famous for “The Mona Lisa,” (1503-1517), one of the most
widely-recognized paintings in the world. Filippo Brunelleschi is most famous for his discovery
of perspective and for engineering the dome of the Florence Cathedral (1420-1436). While he
is not considered a fine artist like Da Vinci, his architectural contributions were essential to
other artists’ use of linear perspective from that point forward. Michelangelo di Lodovico
Buonarroti Simoni, an Italian painter and sculptor, was another important Renaissance artist
whose earliest known work is “The Madonna of the Stairs” (1490-1492).
I chose the Renaissance movement because I am a very technical and mathematical
person. I am interested in architecture, and many buildings were constructed during the
Renaissance period that I find beautiful. The consideration of mathematics in the creation of
fine art is truly inspiring to me. If I used this movement as inspiration for a room design, I
would focus on some of the architectural features that were revived from ancient Greece and
Rome, such as the orders (columns), arches, and vaulted ceilings. These features could be
incorporated into a room design in a more modern fashion.
HW Assignment – Artistic Movement Research Essay
Grading Rubric (50 pts.)
Name: ______________________________
CRITERIA
SCORE
POINTS
Art Movement 1
 From 1800 - 1900
 Criteria were followed
15
Art Movement 2
 From 1900 - 1940
 Criteria were followed
15
Art Movement 3
 From 1940 - Present
 Criteria were followed
15
Spelling, Grammar, Sentence
Structure
 Paper is written well, and proofread
 Every 5 major errors = 1 point
deduction
Lateness
 Subtract 5% of grade for each class
period the project is late
Total Points
5
-2.5
pts.
per
day
50
Due: _________
COMMENTS