History

of Arts
Prepared by: Kathrina A. Mula
BECED 1-A
Paleolithic Era (~40,000–4,000 B.C.)
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.
One of the most famous examples is that of the
Paleolithic cave paintings found in the complex caves of
Lascaux in France.
Ancient Art (4,000 B.C.–A.D. 400)
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.
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)
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
This period was also responsible for the emergence of the illuminated
manuscript and Gothic architecture style.
catacombs in Rome, Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, the Lindisfarne Gospels,
 Renaissance Art (1400–1600)
This style of painting, sculpture, and decorative art was characterized by a
focus on nature and individualism
Italian designer Filippo Brunelleschi and sculptor Donatello were key
innovators during this period.
 Mannerism (1527–1580)
It is named after maniera, an Italian term for “style” or “manner,” and refers to
a stylized, exaggerated approach to painting and sculpture.
Some of the most celebrated Mannerist artists include Giorgio Vasari,
Francesco Salviati, Domenico Beccafumi, and Bronzino
 Baroque (1600–1750)
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.
 Neoclassicism (1750–1850)
Neoclassical artists were influenced by classical elements; in particular, a focus
on idealism. Inevitably, they also included modern, historically relevant
depictions in their works.
 Romanticism (1780–1850)
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.
 Realism (1848–1900)
Realism, began in France in the 1840s
Each inspired new interest in accurately capturing everyday life
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,”
It focused on the natural world, characterized by long, sinuous lines and
curves.
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
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
Parasol (1875), and Impression, Sunrise (1872), from which the name of the
movement itself is derived.
 Post-Impressionism (1885–1910)
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
 Fauvism (1900–1935)
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.
Fauvism was an important precursor of Cubism and Expressionism.
 Expressionism (1905–1920)
Expressionist art sought to draw from within the artist, using a distortion of
form and strong colors to display anxieties and raw emotions
 Cubism (1907–1914)
Cubism was established by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, who
rejected the concept that art should copy nature
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 were influenced by Karl Marx and theories developed by Sigmund
Freud, who explored psychoanalysis and the power of imagination.
 Op Art (1950s–1960s)
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
 Contemporary Art (1970–present)
"contemporary art" refers to art made and produced by artists living today.
Today's artists work in and respond to a global environment that is culturally
diverse, technologically advancing, and multifaceted
 Reference/s:
https://www.invaluable.com/blog/art-history-timeline/