Ancient Civilizations
What was the purpose of prehistoric art?
Prehistoric art is hypothesized to have the purpose of marking people's migration path, food sources, warnings of danger, and common weather patterns of the area.
What type of art replaced mosaics and why?
Mosaics began to be replaced during the Byzantine Empire with fresco-painted murals. The murals were cheaper and faster to make.
What are the key differences between Catholic and Dutch Baroque?
Catholic Baroque paintings were large in size, designed for a large audience to view at one time. The art was created to spread the teachings of Christianity and the power of the monarchy across Southern Europe.
Dutch Baroque paintings were small in size, designed to be viewed by one to two people in a private home. The art was created to promote individual reflection or to decorate the interior of buildings.
List five Modern Art movements.
Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Symbolism, Synthetism, Art Nouveau, Fauvism, Expressionism, Cubism, Dadaism, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism
What are the common features of Fauvist art?
Fauvist art included the unnatural use of bright, bold colors. Color was often applied in patches and the paintings at times could have an unfinished or scratchy look.
What are the physical differences between the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Pyramid Djoser?
The Pyramid Djoser is a mastaba, or step pyramid, and is considered one of the oldest Egyptian artifacts. The Pyramids of Giza were constructed almost 1,000 years later and are more traditional in shape with smooth faces.
What building in Paris, France is a good example of Gothic architecture?
Notre Dame is a good example of Gothic architecture. It's design includes stained glass, gargoyles, portals, ribbed vaults, flying buttresses, and pointed arches.
What was the purpose of Neoclassical art?
Neoclassical art was inspired by the art of ancient Greece and Rome. The art featured common themes of patriotism and unification of the people, calling to arms the civilians to fight against the controlling monarchy and church in France.
What are the key features of Impressionism art?
Impressionism focused on capturing a single moment, using short brushstrokes of color and not including much detail. Their work was also typically done "en plein air" or outside.
What was the purpose of Expressionist art?
Expressionists worked to create art that expressed the artist's inner state of mind. Their works were intended to be intense, direct, and deeply personal. Expressionism did not strive to portray beauty in the traditional sense; instead, the art portrayed a variety of subjects, including the unattractive and even evil parts of humanity. Stylistically, Expressionist works shared certain elements, including distorted lines and shapes, minimal details, and bold, non-naturalistic colors.
What was Cuneiform?
Cuneiform was the written language of the Sumerians, the ancient civilization of Mesopotamia. The writing was made using a stylus to impress symbols and lines onto clay tablets.
What is humanism?
The belief of an individual's potential outside of faith or the idea of fate.
What was the purpose of Romantic art?
Romantic art was created to visually tell the story of historical events or common myths, sometimes both at the same time. Romantic artists used a wide range of human emotion in their artworks to capture the wide range of emotions humans can feel. This type of art also featured raging storms or uncontrollable weather, a way to honor nature.
What is the difference between Impressionism and Post-Impressionism art?
Post-Impressionist artists went through Impressionist phases earlier in their careers. Eventually, each came to reject the focus on spontaneously capturing light and color, and began to focus more on structure and order. Abstraction became central to the composition of the work, as opposed to just a result of a speedy painting technique.
What are the common features of Cubism?
The major elements of Cubism consisted of geometric blocks of color, flattened space, and an emphasis on form and shape with a de-emphasize on perspective and depth
What was one of the advanced architectural inventions made by the Romans?
Roman Aqueducts, Horseshoe Arches, Concrete Domed Buildings
What art material is artist Jan van Eyck credited for inventing?
Oil paints
What was the purpose of Realist art?
Realist art was made as a social and political commentary of the upper class and industrialization of society. Realism often captured the harsh life of the lower classes.
What was the purpose of symbolist art?
Symbolism was a movement that focused on spirituality and turned away from the materialism that dominated Western culture. The art from this movement often has a dreamlike quality, and is filled with iconography, or traditional symbols from religion or legend.
What was the purpose of Dadaism?
Dada has a constant duality. In one sense it was entirely playful, in another it was destructive. Dada questions art and the value of art in society. Dada was politically active and focused on the idea and the performance, rather than the subject matter.
What is the purpose of a mihrab?
The mihrab is a niche in a wall that marks the direction of Mecca.
What is Mannerism?
Mannerist art often creates a sense of discomfort and included human figures that were unnaturally elongated, and often contorted in strange postures.
What are art technique did the pre-raphaelite artists create?
Pre-raphaelite used the "white wet ground" technique to create the glowing quality in their art. This technique is done by covering the canvas in white paint, and then adding layers of color on top of the white paint while it is wet.
What are the common features of Art Nouveau?
Art Nouveau was a decorative style of art that is most recognizable for its twisting linear patterns. Art Nouveau specifically avoided symbolism. Art Nouveau works also generally avoided emotional and narrative content; intended to be decorative, the 'look' of the art took precedence over the content.
Art Nouveau typically uses curves and gem-toned colors, features female figures following the ideal "beauty standards" of the time, as well as floral enhancements. In addition, most of this art also included text in the design.
What are the common features of Abstract Expressionism?
Abstract Expressionist painting generally have characteristics of expressive brushwork, vibrant colors laid out next to each other, and high contrast color or value. The pieces also tend to be highly abstract and even non-representational.