Definition of art: Ancient Art (c.

4,000 BCE–500 CE):

●​ Art is a diverse range of human ●​ Mesopotamian Art:

activities. ●​ Known for temples.
●​ It involves the creation of visual, ●​ Featured cylinder seals.
auditory, or performance artifacts. ●​ Included relief sculptures.
●​ These artifacts express: ●​ Egyptian Art:
• The creator's imagination. ●​ Characterized by monumental
• Conceptual ideas. architecture, such as pyramids.
• Technical skill. ●​ Included hieroglyphics.
●​ These artifacts are intended to be ●​ Featured tomb paintings.
appreciated for:
• Their beauty. Medieval Art (c. 500–1400 CE):
• Their emotional power.
●​ Forms of art: ●​ Known for religious mosaics and
• Visual Arts icons.
• Performing Arts ●​ Romanesque Art:
• Literary Arts ●​ Characterized by semi-circular
• Applied Arts arches.
●​ Featured thick walls.
●​ Included elaborate sculptures on
HISTORY OF ART churches.
●​ Gothic Art:
●​ Known for tall cathedrals with flying
Prehistoric Art (c. 40,000–4,000 buttresses.
BCE): ●​ Included stained glass windows.
●​ Cave Paintings: ●​ Featured intricate sculptures.
●​ The earliest known artworks.
●​ Examples include the cave paintings
in Lascaux, France. Renaissance Art (c. 1400–1600):
●​ Depictions include animals and human
figures.
●​ Humanism:
●​ Venus Figurines:
●​ A focus on the human experience.
●​ Small sculptures representing female
●​ Notable Artists:
figures.
●​ Leonardo da Vinci.
●​ Often associated with fertility.
●​ Michelangelo.
●​ Raphael.
●​ Techniques:
●​ Development of perspective.
●​ Use of chiaroscuro (light and shadow
contrasts).
●​ Application of sfumato (soft transitions
between colors and tones).
Baroque Art (c. 1600–1750): ART REQUIRES HUMAN THOUGHT
AND ANALYSIS
● Emotional Intensity:
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● Dramatic use of light and shadow. 1. Concept
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● Emphasis on movement. - Artists have a concept or idea they want
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● Use of rich colors. to communicate.
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- They choose materials and techniques to
Neoclassicism (c. 1750–1850): express this idea.

● Return to Classical Ideals: 2. Technique

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● Inspired by ancient Greece and Rome. - Artists develop skills and techniques
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● Focused on simplicity and symmetry. through practice and learning.
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- These techniques shape the artistic
process.
Romanticism (c. 1800–1850):
3. Interpretation
● Emphasis on Emotion: - Art is open to interpretation by viewers.
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● Focused on individual experience. - Viewers bring their own experiences and
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● Highlighted the beauty and power of understanding to the work.
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nature.
● Explored the concept of the sublime ART AS AHUMAN CONSTRUCT
​
Art Is Not Nature 1. Intention
2. Creation
-Art is created by the artist's imagination and 3. Interpretation
doesn’t exist until made.
-Nature exists independently and persists THE REFLECTIVE NATURE OF ART
without human intervention.
- Human Experience
THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN - Emotions and thoughts.
ART AND NATURE
- Cultural Context
- Nature: - Society and time period.
- The physical world, including plants,
animals, and the environment. - Universal Themes
- Exists independently of human thought. - Examples: Love, beauty, loss.
- Art:
- Created by humans. IF ART IS NATURE.
- Reflects human thought and analysis.
- A human construct, not a product of nature. - Eliminates Uniqueness
- Art becomes indistinguishable from nature,
removing its distinct qualities and human
value.

- Undermines Creativity
- If art is merely a copy of nature, creativity
and human expression are diminished.
Did You Know?
Artistic Mastery
The visual arts encompass a vast array of
creative expressions, from ancient cave ● Advanced understanding of anatomy,

​
paintings to contemporary digital installations. perspective, and color theory.
Key milestones in their evolution highlight ● Celebrated human beauty, intellectual

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diverse styles, techniques, and influences. prowess, and the divine.
​
Origins of Visual Art Impressionism and
Post-Impressionism
Early Forms
Impressionism
● Cave paintings, rock carvings, and
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prehistoric art. ● Artists: Monet, Renoir.
● Depicted scenes from daily life,

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● Focused on capturing fleeting
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hunting, and religious rituals.

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moments and effects of light.
Ancient Civilizations Post-Impressionism
● Egypt, Greece, and Rome: Developed ● Artists: Van Gogh, Cézanne.
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sophisticated visual arts.
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● Emphasized individual expression.
● Used sculpture, painting, mosaic, and
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● Experimented with form, color, and
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architecture.
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composition.
● Expressed religious beliefs, social
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structures, and political power
Printmaking: Replicating and
Sharing Art
The Renaissance: Birth of Fine Art
Woodblock Printing
Rebirth
● Ancient technique of carving designs
● Renewed interest in classical art and
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into woodblocks for printing.
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culture.
● Introduced new techniques like linear Engraving and Etching
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perspective and naturalism.
● Used tools to create designs on metal
Fine Art
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plates for printing.
● Painting emerged as a fine art form. Lithography
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● Key Artists: Leonardo da Vinci,
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Michelangelo, Raphael. ● Based on the principle that oil and
● Created masterpieces that redefined
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water repel each other.
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artistic standards.
Digital Printmaking

● Utilizes computer technology to

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create and reproduce images.
Photography and Architecture:
Visual Storytelling
Photography

● Captures moments in time.

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● Offers unique perspectives on the
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world’s beauty.

Architecture

● Shapes spaces to express cultural

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values and artistic visions.

Visual Storytelling

● Photography and architecture together

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create powerful visual narratives.
● Evoke emotions and inspire
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imagination.

The Future of Visual Arts

● Digital Art: Uses computers and
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software to create and manipulate
images.
● Conceptual Art: Prioritizes ideas and
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concepts over traditional forms.
● Evolution: Visual arts continue to grow
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with new technologies, mediums, and
forms of expression.