Art History: definition, aspects and periods

protection click fraud

The history of art is seen as an area of ​​knowledge that addresses the various artistic manifestations of human beings throughout their trajectory on the planet.

We can say that such manifestations take place through dance, music, theater, visual arts and other expressions that are intended to convey emotions, ideas and worldviews.

Art is related to the first forms of human expression and, depending on the place and historical moment, it manifested itself in different ways.

It is also important to emphasize that this field of knowledge is under constant construction, not being something static, but architected at all times by the various artistic demonstrations that appear in the society.

Anthropologists and historians use art as a powerful tool for understanding peoples, cultures and social organizations.

To make its study and understanding more accessible, art was then organized by periods, movements and strands.

See how art history - especially Western - has been classified.

art in prehistory

instagram story viewer
willendorf's Venus
THE Venus of Willendorf is a statuette from the Paleolithic period, dated approximately 28,000 years BC. Ç.

Even in the prehistoric period, that is, before the invention of writing, the human being already produced the prehistoric art.

Everything we know about these civilizations has been discovered by researchers through the analysis of objects and paintings from these peoples.

This period of humanity was quite long and, therefore, divided into 3 phases: Lower Paleolithic (500,000 BC). Ç.); Upper Paleolithic (30 thousand BC). C.) and Neolithic (10 thousand a. Ç.).

It was at the time of the Upper Paleolithic that the first artistic expressions were discovered, such as the rock art from the caves of Lascaux (France) and Altamira (Spain).

To learn more about it, read:

  • Art in the Paleolithic Period
  • Art in the Neolithic Period

art in antiquity

sculpture rome formation
The Etruscan Sculpture Capitoline Wolf was made around the 11th and 12th centuries and the theme is the creation of Rome

From the invention of writing, we have Antiquity, which goes back to the first expressions of Christian art. At that time, civilizations were heavily marked by symbology.

See the artistic manifestations of the period:

  • Mesopotamian art
  • Egyptian art
  • Celtic and Germanic Art
  • Aegean art
  • Phoenician Art
  • Etruscan art
  • greek art
  • Roman art
  • Early Christian or Early Christian Art

medieval art

medieval art
Medieval painting from 1308. temper on wood

THE medieval art it was produced during the Middle Ages, between the 5th and 15th centuries. During this period, the Catholic Church dictated the rules in Europe and all artistic production was linked to religiosity.

The art of that time is divided into:

  • Byzantine art
  • Romanesque art
  • Gothic art

Renaissance art

the birth of venus
The born of Venus (1483) by Sandro Botticelli is a Renaissance painting

The Renaissance is understood as the period after the Middle Ages. It emerged in Italy in the 15th century and was a time of great cultural, artistic and intellectual effervescence.

The works produced at that time reflected new yearnings and feelings.

The rebirth brought the valorization and exaltation of the human being (anthropocentrism), contrary to medieval thought, which saw God above all (theocentrism).

To learn more about the period, read also:

  • cultural renaissance
  • Renaissance Artists
  • artistic renaissance

Pre-Columbian Art

pre colombian art
Exhibits of pre-Columbian art on display at the Museum of Pre-Colombian Art in Chile

Pre-Columbian art is defined as the artistic and cultural production of first peoples of america Spanish before the arrival of Christopher Columbus on the mainland in 1492.

Artistic manifestations of Amerindian people are considered to be pieces with religious or decorative functions, in addition to architectural expressions.

Through the study of pre-Columbian art, it was possible to classify and distinguish the peoples who lived in Latin America and to understand their specific cultures and also in general.

These artistic expressions were:

  • inca art
  • Aztec art
  • Mayan art

Art in the so-called "Contemporary Age"

freedom leading the people
freedom leading the people (1830), by Delacroix, is a work of romanticism that illustrates the Revolution of 1830, which took place in France

"Contemporary Age" is understood as the phase that begins with the French Revolution (1789) and extends to the present day.

The main events in this period were: French Revolution, First War, Second War and Cold War.

The artistic aspects that were part of this context at first are:

  • neoclassicism
  • Romanticism
  • Realism
  • Impressionism
  • Post-Impressionism

Modern Art or Modernism

picasso cubism
Self-portrait (1907) by Pablo Picasso

We consider modern art to be the artistic manifestations that emerged in Europe at the end of the 19th century and extended until the middle of the 20th century, with the end of World War II.

Integrate modernism: painting, sculpture, architecture and literature.

European vanguards

In the context of modernism, several artistic currents emerged.

we give the name of European vanguards to these strands. The word "vanguard" is derived from the French avant-garde, which means "advanced guard", suggesting pioneering in the arts.

These movements are, therefore, innovative manifestations of art and were responsible for a great transformation in the way of expressing and understanding artistic works. Are they:

  • Expressionism
  • Fauvism
  • Cubism
  • futurism
  • Dadaism
  • Surrealism

Contemporary Art or Postmodern Art

contemporary art
minimal monument is a work of contemporary art by Brazilian artist Néle Azevedo

The artistic productions produced after World War II are called "contemporary" and today this name remains for current productions, also called postmodern.

This is because the word "contemporary" comes from the Latin word contemporary, which is the union of the terms "with" and "time", meaning "what or who of the current time".

At contemporary art, the concept behind the works took on greater meaning and the globalized social context directly affects the expression of the artists and the enjoyment of the audience.

These manifestations are developed in various fields, such as dance, fashion, music, theater, sculpture, performances, installations, videoart, web art, photography, painting, literature, happenings, objects, textile art, and other expressions hybrids.

To learn more about some of these moves, read:

  • Conceptual art
  • Arte Povera
  • Kinetic Art
  • pop art
  • Op Art
  • Abstract Expressionism
  • Minimalism
  • Land Art
  • Urban art
  • Graphite
  • body art

History of Art in Brazil

history of art in Brazil
the silly, by Anita Malfatti on the left. self portrait, from Tarsila do Amaral on the right

In Brazil, artistic production has been taking place since before the arrival of the Portuguese. Cave paintings of up to 15 thousand years have been found in the state of Piauí, in Serra da Capivara and in other archaeological sites.

The artistic manifestations are diverse in Brazil and accompany the historical and cultural moments in the country. Are they:

  • Indigenous Brazilian Art
  • Baroque in Brazil
  • Neoclassicism in Brazil
  • Romanticism, Realism, Naturalism and Symbolism
  • Modernism in Brazil (with emphasis on the week of 22)
  • Brazilian contemporary art

Art History Quiz

7Graus Quiz - How much do you know about the History of Art?
Teachs.ru

The structure of colors

The color structure is divided into physical and psychological structure. The physical structure ...

read more

Pop Art. Pop Art and the manifestations of mass culture

The place of art has always been an extensively debated theme among critics, connoisseurs, resea...

read more

Memories of a relic cinema

A month of vacation, off-season from our temporal occupations, is a month of dedicating yourself....

read more
instagram viewer