Republic of the Philippines
Commission on Higher Education
LIGAO COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Guilid, Ligao City, 4504
A.Y. 2021-2022
FIRST TERM
ART APPRECIATION
Week 9
Name : __________________________________________Course/Year/Block: ________________
Date received: __________________________Instructor’s Name: _________________________
Module Title: HISTORY AND MOVEMENTS OF THE ARTS
I. OVERVIEW/INTRODUCTION
The history of art is immense; the earliest cave paintings pre-date
writing by almost 27,000 years! If you’re interested in art history, the first
thing you should do is take a look at this table, which briefly outlines the
artists, traits, works, and events that make up major art periods and how
art has evolved to the present day. The foundation of art history can be
traced back tens of thousands of years to when ancient civilizations
used available techniques and media to depict culturally significant
subject matter. Since these early examples, a plethora of art movements
have followed, each bearing their own distinct styles and characteristics
that reflect the political and social influences of the period from which
they emerged. Whether you’re an aspiring collector or simply
appreciate the work of history’s great artists, studying the major
movements of the art history timeline is a worthwhile place to start.
II. LEARNING OUTCOME
At the end of this module, you are expected to:
- Present the history of the arts through the a timeline
III. DISCUSSION/SELF-ASSESSMENT
Prehistoric Art (~40,000–4,000 B.C.)
The origins of art history can be traced back to the Prehistoric era, before written
records were kept. The earliest artifacts come from the Paleolithic era, or the Old
Stone Age, in the form of rock carvings, engravings, pictorial imagery, sculptures,
and stone arrangements.
Art from this period relied on the use of natural pigments and stone carvings to
create representations of objects, animals, and rituals that governed a
civilization’s existence. One of the most famous examples is that of the Paleolithic
cave paintings found in the complex caves of Lascaux in France. Though
discovered in 1940, they’re estimated to be up to 20,000 years old and depict
large animals and vegetation from the area.
Ancient Art (4,000 B.C.–A.D. 400)
Ancient art was produced by advanced civilizations, which in this case refers to
those with an established written language. These civilizations included
Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and those of the Americas.
Republic of the Philippines
Commission on Higher Education
LIGAO COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Guilid, Ligao City, 4504
The medium of a work of art from this period varies depending on the civilization
that produced it, but most art served similar purposes: to tell stories, decorate
utilitarian objects like bowls and weapons, display religious and symbolic imagery,
and demonstrate social status. Many works depict stories of rulers, gods, and
goddesses.
One of the most famous works from ancient Mesopotamia is the Code of
Hammurabi. Created around 1792 B.C., the piece bears a Babylonian set of laws
carved in stone, adorned by an image of King Hammurabi—the sixth King of
Babylonia—and the Mesopotamian god, Shabash.
Medieval Art (500–1400)
The Middle Ages, often referred to as the “Dark Ages,” marked a period of
economic and cultural deterioration following the fall of the Roman Empire in 476
A.D. Much of the artwork produced in the early years of the period reflects that
darkness, characterized by grotesque imagery and brutal scenery. Art produced
during this time was centered around the Church. As the first millennium passed,
more sophisticated and elaborately decorated churches emerged; windows and
silhouettes were adorned with biblical subjects and scenes from classical
mythology.
This period was also responsible for the emergence of the illuminated
manuscript and Gothic architecture style. Definitive examples of influential art
from this period include the catacombs in Rome, Hagia Sophia in Istanbul,
the Lindisfarne Gospels, one of the best-known examples of the illuminated
manuscript, and Notre Dame, a Parisian cathedral and prominent example of
Gothic architecture.
Renaissance Art (1400–1600)
This style of painting, sculpture, and decorative art was characterized by a focus
on nature and individualism, the thought of man as independent and self-reliant.
Though these ideals were present in the late Medieval period, they flourished in
the 15th and 16th centuries, paralleling social and economic changes like
secularization.
The Renaissance reached its height in Florence, Italy, due in large part to the
Medici, a wealthy merchant family who adamantly supported the arts
and humanism, a variety of beliefs and philosophies that places emphasis on the
human realm. Italian designer Filippo Brunelleschi and sculptor Donatello were
key innovators during this period.
The High Renaissance, which lasted from 1490 to 1527, produced influential artists
such as da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael, each of whom brought creative
power and spearheaded ideals of emotional expression. Artwork throughout the
Renaissance was characterized by realism, attention to detail, and precise study
of human anatomy. Artists used linear perspective and created depth through
intense lighting and shading. Art began to change stylistically shortly after the
High Renaissance, when clashes between the Christian faith and humanism gave
way to Mannerism.
Republic of the Philippines
Commission on Higher Education
LIGAO COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Guilid, Ligao City, 4504
Mannerism (1527–1580)
Mannerist artists emerged from the ideals of Michelangelo, Raphael, and other
Late Renaissance artists, but their focus on style and technique outweighed the
meaning of the subject matter. Often, figures had graceful, elongated limbs,
small heads, stylized features and exaggerated details. This yielded more
complex, stylized compositions rather than relying on the classical ideals of
harmonious composition and linear perspective used by their Renaissance
predecessors.
Some of the most celebrated Mannerist artists include Giorgio Vasari, Francesco
Salviati, Domenico Beccafumi, and Bronzino, who is widely considered to be the
most important Mannerist painter in Florence during his time.
Baroque (1600–1750)
The Baroque period that followed Mannerism yielded ornate, over-the-top visual
arts and architecture. It was characterized by grandeur and richness, punctuated
by an interest in broadening human intellect and global discovery. Baroque artists
were stylistically complex.
Baroque paintings were characterized by drama, as seen in the iconic works of
Italian painter Caravaggio and Dutch painter Rembrandt. Painters used an
intense contrast between light and dark and had energetic compositions
matched by rich color palettes.
Rococo (1699–1780)
Rococo originated in Paris, encompassing decorative art, painting, architecture,
and sculpture. The aesthetic offered a softer style of decorative art compared to
Baroque’s exuberance. Rococo is characterized by lightness and elegance,
focusing on the use of natural forms, asymmetrical design, and subtle colors.
Painters like Antoine Watteau and Francois Boucher used lighthearted
treatments, rich brushwork, and fresh colors. The Rococo style also easily
translated to silver, porcelain, and French furniture. Many chairs and armoires
featured curving forms, floral designs, and an expressive use of gilt.
Neoclassicism (1750–1850)
As its name suggests, the Neoclassical period drew upon elements from classical
antiquity. Archaeological ruins of ancient civilizations in Athens and Naples that
were discovered at the time reignited a passion for all things past, and artists
strove to recreate the great works of ancient art. This translated to a renewed
interest in classical ideals of harmony, simplicity, and proportion.
Neoclassical artists were influenced by classical elements; in particular, a focus
on idealism. Inevitably, they also included modern, historically relevant depictions
in their works. For example, Italian sculptor Antonio Canova drew upon classical
elements in his marble sculptures, but avoided the cold artificiality that was
represented in many of these early creations.
Republic of the Philippines
Commission on Higher Education
LIGAO COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Guilid, Ligao City, 4504
Romanticism (1780–1850)
Romanticism embodies a broad range of disciplines, from painting to music to
literature. The ideals present in each of these art forms reject order, harmony, and
rationality, which were embraced in both classical art and Neoclassicism. Instead,
Romantic artists emphasized the individual and imagination. Another defining
Romantic ideal was an appreciation for nature, with many turning to plein
air painting, which brought artists out of dark interiors and enabled them to paint
outside. Artists also focused on passion, emotion, and sensation over intellect and
reason.
Prominent Romantic painters include Henry Fuseli, who created strange,
macabre paintings that explored the dark recesses of human psychology,
and William Blake, whose mysterious poems and images conveyed mystical
visions and his disappointment in societal constraints.
Realism (1848–1900)
Arguably the first modern art movement, Realism, began in France in the 1840s.
Realism was a result of multiple events: the anti-Romantic movement in Germany,
the rise of journalism, and the advent of photography. Each inspired new interest
in accurately capturing everyday life. This attention to accuracy is evident in art
produced during the movement, which featured detailed, life-like depictions of
subject matter.
One of the most influential leaders of the Realist movement is Gustave Courbet,
a French artist committed to painting only what he could physically see.
Art Nouveau (1890–1910)
Art Nouveau, which translates to “New Art,” attempted to create an entirely
authentic movement free from any imitation of styles that preceded it. This
movement heavily influenced applied arts, graphics, and illustration. It focused
on the natural world, characterized by long, sinuous lines and curves.
Influential Art Nouveau artists worked in a variety of media, including
architecture, graphic and interior design, jewelry-making, and painting.
Czechoslovakian graphic designer Alphonse Mucha is best-known for his
theatrical posters of French actress Sarah Bernhardt. Spanish architect and
sculptor Antoni Gaudi went beyond focusing on lines to create curving, brightly-
colored constructions like that of the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
Impressionism (1865–1885)
Impressionist painters sought to capture the immediate impression of a particular
moment. This was characterized by short, quick brushstrokes and an unfinished,
sketch-like feel. Impressionist artists used modern life as their subject matter,
painting situations like dance halls and sailboat regattas rather than historical and
mythological events.
Claude Monet, a French artist who spearheaded the idea of expressing one’s
perceptions before nature, is virtually synonymous with the Impressionist
movement. His notable works include The Water Lily Pond (1899), Woman with a
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Commission on Higher Education
LIGAO COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Guilid, Ligao City, 4504
Parasol (1875), and Impression, Sunrise (1872), from which the name of the
movement itself is derived.
Post-Impressionism (1885–1910)
Post-Impressionist painters worked independently rather than as a group, but
each influential Post-Impressionist painter had similar ideals. They concentrated
on subjective visions and symbolic, personal meanings rather than observations
of the outside world. This was often achieved through abstract forms.
Post-Impressionist painters include Georges Seurat, noted for
his pointillism technique that used small, distinct dots to form an image. Vincent
van Gogh is also considered a Post-Impressionist painter, searching for personal
expression through his art, often through rugged brushstrokes and dark tones.
Fauvism (1900–1935)
Led by Henri Matisse, Fauvism built upon examples from Vincent van Gogh
and George Seurat. As the first avant-garde, 20th-century movement, this style
was characterized by expressive use of intense color, line, and brushwork, a bold
sense of surface design, and flat composition.
As seen in many of the works of Matisse himself, the separation of color from its
descriptive, representational purpose was one of the core elements that shaped
this movement. Fauvism was an important precursor of Cubism and Expressionism.
Expressionism (1905–1920)
Expressionism emerged as a response to increasingly conflicted world views and
the loss of spirituality. Expressionist art sought to draw from within the artist, using a
distortion of form and strong colors to display anxieties and raw emotions.
Expressionist painters, in a quest for authenticity, looked for inspiration beyond that
of Western art and frequented ethnographic museums to revisit native folk
traditions and tribal art.
The roots of Expressionism can be traced to Vincent van Gogh, Edvard Munch,
and James Ensor. Prominent groups including Die Brücke (The Bridge) and Der
Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider) formed so artists could publish works and express their
ideals collectively.
Cubism (1907–1914)
Cubism was established by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, who rejected the
concept that art should copy nature. They moved away from traditional
techniques and perspectives; instead, they created radically fragmented objects
through abstraction. Many Cubist painters’ works are marked by flat, two-
dimensional surfaces, geometric forms or “cubes” of objects, and multiple
vantage points. Often, their subjects weren’t even discernible.
Surrealism (1916–1950)
Surrealism emerged from the Dada art movement in 1916, showcasing works of
art that defied reason. Surrealists denounced the rationalist mindset. They blamed
this thought process on events like World War I and believed it to repress
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Commission on Higher Education
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imaginative thoughts. Surrealists were influenced by Karl Marx and theories
developed by Sigmund Freud, who explored psychoanalysis and the power of
imagination.
Influential Surrealist artists like Salvador Dalí tapped into the unconscious mind to
depict revelations found on the street and in everyday life. Dalí’s paintings in
particular pair vivid and bizarre dreams with historical accuracy.
Abstract Expressionism (1940s–1950s)
Shaped by the legacy of Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism emerged in New York
after WWII. It’s often referred to as the New York School or action painting. These
painters and abstract sculptors broke away from what was considered
conventional, and instead used spontaneity and improvisation to create abstract
works of art. This included colossally-scaled works whose size could no longer be
accommodated by an easel. Instead, canvases would be placed directly upon
the floor.
Celebrated Abstract Expressionist painters include Jackson Pollock, known for his
unique style of drip painting, and Mark Rothko, whose paintings employed large
blocks of color to convey a sense of spirituality.
Op Art (1950s–1960s)
Heightened by advances in science and technology as well as an interest in
optical effects and illusions, the Op art (short for “optical” art) movement
launched with Le Mouvement, a group exhibition at Galerie Denise Rene in 1955.
Artists active in this style used shapes, colors, and patterns to create images that
appeared to be moving or blurring, often produced in black and white for
maximum contrast. These abstract patterns were meant to both confuse and
excite the eye.
English artist Bridget Riley is one of the most prominent Op Art practitioners. Her
1964 artwork Blaze features zigzag black and white lines that create the illusion of
a circular decent.
Pop Art (1950s–1960s)
Pop art is one of the most recognizable artistic developments of the 20th century.
The movement transitioned away from methods used in Abstract Expressionism,
and instead used everyday, mundane objects to create innovative works of art
that challenged consumerism and mass media. This introduction to identifiable
imagery was a shift from the direction of modernism.
Pop artists like Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein sought to establish the idea that
art can draw from any source and there is no hierarchy of culture to disrupt that.
Perhaps the most famous pop culture work of art is Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup
Cans production.
Arte Povera (1960s)
Translating literally to “poor art,” Arte Povera challenged modernist,
contemporary systems by infusing commonplace materials into creations. Artists
used soil, rocks, paper, rope, and other earthen elements to evoke a pre-industrial
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Commission on Higher Education
LIGAO COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Guilid, Ligao City, 4504
sentiment. As a result, many of the notable works during this movement are
sculptural.
Italian artist Mario Merz, in conjunction with other Italian artists such as Giovanni
Anselmo and Alighiero Boetti, created anti-elitist works by drawing upon materials
from everyday life. His 1968 Giap’s Igloo, one of what would soon become his
signature series of igloos, focused on his occupations with the necessities of life:
shelter, warmth, and food.
Minimalism (1960s–1970s)
The Minimalist movement emerged in New York as a group of younger artists
began to question the overly expressive works of Abstract Expressionist
artists. Minimalist art instead focused on anonymity, calling attention to the
materiality of works. Artists urged viewers to focus on precisely what was in front
of them, rather than draw parallels to outside realities and emotive thoughts
through the use of purified forms, order, simplicity, and harmony.
American artist Frank Stella was of the earliest adopters of Minimalism, producing
nonrepresentational paintings, as seen in his Black Paintings completed between
1958 and 1960. Each features a pattern of rectilinear stripes of uniform width
printed in metallic black ink.
Conceptual Art (1960s–1970s)
Conceptual art completely rejected previous art movements, and artists prized
ideas over visual components, creating art in the from of performances,
ephemera, and other forms. Polish performance artist Ewa Partum’s Active
Poetry consisted of her scattering single alphabet letters across
various landscapes. American artist Joseph Kosuth explored the production and
role of language within art, as seen in his 1965, One and Three Chairs. In it, he
represents one chair in three different ways to represent different meanings of the
same object. Because this type of art focused on ideas and concepts, there was
no distinct style or form.
Contemporary Art (1970–present)
The 1970s marked the beginning of contemporary art, which extends through
present day. This period is dominated by various schools and smaller movements
that emerged.
• Postmodernism: In reaction against modernism, artists created works that
reflected skepticism, irony, and philosophical critiques.
• Feminist art: This movement arose in an attempt to transform stereotypes and
break the model of a male-dominated art history.
• Neo Expressionism: Artists sought to revive original aspects of Expressionism and
create highly textural, expressive, large works.
• Street art: Artists such as Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Barry McGee,
Banksy, and more created graffiti-like art on surfaces in public places like
sidewalks, buildings, and overpasses.
• The Pictures Generation: Artists Cindy Sherman, Louise Lawler, Gary Simmons,
and others who were influenced by Conceptual and Pop art experimented
with recognizable imagery to explore images shaped our perceptions of the
world.
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Commission on Higher Education
LIGAO COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Guilid, Ligao City, 4504
• Appropriation art: This movement focused on the use of images in art with little
transformation from their original form.
• Young British Artists (YBA): This group of London artists were notorious for their
willingness to shock audiences through their imagery, and a willingness to push
beyond limits of decency. They’re also known for their zestful, entrepreneurial
spirit.
• Digital art: The advent of the camera lent way to this artistic practice that
allowed artists to use the infusion of art and technology to create with mediums
like computers, audio and visual software, sound, and pixels.
IV. SUMMARY/KEY POINTS
Art movements throughout the history of art have offered a swath of
diverse, influential styles, techniques, and media across the globe. Each
movement shed light on distinctive painting, sculpture, architectural
achievements, and other defining works. Understanding the timeline of art
history and how each period has influenced later movements is paramount
to building a thoughtful, cohesive collection.
V. END OF MODULE ASSESSMENT
Summarize the history and movements in art through a timeline. Give
emphasis on the unique characteristics of the different movements
VI. LOOKING AHEAD
1. No assignment.
VII. SELF AND MODULE EVALUATION
A. Self-evaluation
PART OF THE LESSON/MODULE THAT
I find most I find most I find most I would like to
interesting challenging difficult work further
B. Module Evaluation
Rate your learning experience in using this module using the following scale:
4 I learned a lot from this module.
3 I learned just right.
2 I still need guidance on certain topics.
1 I did not understand anything.
VIII. REFERENCES
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/499969996107602672/
Republic of the Philippines
Commission on Higher Education
LIGAO COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Guilid, Ligao City, 4504
Prepared by:
RICO P. PRADAS
Instructor
Checked and evaluated by:
DR. ALICIA O. RETONA
College Dean
Approved by:
DR. JOVERT M. OFRACIO
OIC – College Administrator/President
