Essays on Art History

Art Business

Art inspired minds of people throughout the entire history of humankind. From the paintings on the walls of caves to beautiful art galleries, people tried to explain and share their thoughts using creativity and talent. My intense interest in Art dates back to my high school years when I took an Art course of higher level in the IB programme, but Art has always been a passion of mine. I was fascinated about the genius of the people who contributed to the history of art leaving their heritage for the next generations. My family always appreciated the value of ...

The article, named “Lessons from the History of Art Crime “Saving Artifacts from Terrorists” is an adaptation of the talk, given at The Courtauld Institute at the combined Courtauld/ARCA event, "Art and Terrorism" by Noah Charney on the 26th of February. The speaker brings up one of the most actual questions, terrifying, dreadful and barbarian, regarding the art’s safety – the demolishing of art because of the terrorists’ attacks. The fact that it has been caused by humans brings even more importance to this issue, placing it on the international arena. However, the main reason to all of these ...

Introduction

Etruscan is an ancient italic culture that was developed from a prehistoric civilization referred to as Villanova. The Etruscans mainly settled within the central region of Italy specifically between Tiber and Arno rivers. The Etruscan civilization was once a brilliant culture that has disappeared over time but represents the foundation for ancient development of Roman art and culture as well as the Italian Renaissance. The Etruscans were considered as the first “superpowers” in the entire peninsula currently referred to as Italy. In fact the Etruscans established most cities in Western Mediterranean by working alongside Greeks. Cities such as Pisa, ...

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The groundbreaking period of the Harlem Renaissance marked a luxuriant phase in the U.S history. The development of African American arts and culture from 1920 to 1930 was caused by the set of several socio-economic and cultural processes that affected the entire country and concentrated in one place, Harlem. The tremendous amount of literature, music, and visual arts celebrating the African American culture contributed significantly to the country’s art history. During the early 1920s, Harlem became the destination of migrants, growing African American middle class, and highly educated individuals. At the same time, despite the growing evolvement of ...

Art, architecture, and design are very important clues for historians to figure out what exactly a civilization, culture and society valued. Architecture, in particular, is a very important part of a larger material culture which may be used by historians as clues to figure out what impact these decisions had on the larger culture and the way each society organizes itself. In this sense, it is almost nearly inescapable that each piece of art or building will not in some way or another influence our thinking regarding how each of these societies is organized. This is true everywhere around ...

Works of art can communicate critical information on the times in which they were created. Different time periods and different cultural backgrounds provide the stylistic and media elements of a work of art. There may be no specific intent to portray the times, but that is what happens when the artist creates a work of art in a particular artistic period. Examples of art works from two distinctly different times and cultures will demonstrate how the art in the Medieval period of European history and Pop Art from the late mid-20th century differ. The Medieval period in art history ...

Many scholars and theorists have been critical about the social concepts and elements of postmodernism. Some individuals such as Noam Chomsky say that postmodernism does not add analytical knowledge; hence, it is meaningless (Mansfield, 44). Timothy Bewes, on the other hand, calls the approach a cynical reaction (Lee, 16). To develop a better understanding of the criticism of modernity, this essay will sieve through different articles and publications. Through this, the paper will develop two sides to the argument, that is, the artists, architects, and thinkers who support the theory and those who do not, to assist in the ...

Three poems, which have been chosen for this paper: “Because I could not stop for Death” by Emily Dickinson, “A Supermarket in California” by Allen Ginsberg, and “Sailing to Byzantium” by W. B. Yeats, are all very different and belong to different literary trends. However, they all are focused on the subject of death, which they depict from different standpoints, systems of beliefs, and values. In the first poem, “Because I could not stop for Death”, Emily Dickinson describes death using the image of a gentleman, who takes her into his carriage: “He kindly stopped for me – The Carriage” ( ...

the history of art as a contest between seeing and knowing

Is seeing a straightforward activity?

Using the example of Egyptian art, that was made for special audience who knows how to read it, as ‘we cannot really know what this art looked like to the audience it was made for’ (Bagley 176). The process of seeing is directly connected to the object under consideration as well as the person who is performing it, that is why the activity is way more complex than it seems. The seeing of writing, which we often call «reading», is very distinct from the seeing of picture or ...

17 Month Year

The Technical Approach to Art History

The art historian, Henri Focillon made a statement concerning the reason for having technical knowledge to establish the place in history for objects and other art works. In his discussions, he asserted that the reason for this is that it assists with the control of ones own objectivity. This would lead to a universal “observation of technical phenomena” that presents “the same terms, and the same point of view, as it is presented to the artist.” The art historian needs to have technical knowledge in order for him, or her, to correctly establish a chronology, in ...

17 Month Year

Archeology and Art History

It is vital to note that Max Loehr was a distinguished art historian, especially of Chinese art. His 1953 paper was specifically focused on the historical study of Chinese bronzes. The study reflected on the fact that archeology pointed out the fact that the style of an object is not its property. What Robert Bagley set out to do in his book, Max Loehr and the Study of Chinese Bronzes: Style and Classification in the History of Art, was to point out to all art historians, that style and classification is of great concern to all ...

Introduction

The Minoan Civilization was the forerunner of the ancient Greek culture which emerged from the island of Crete. The island of Crete was isolated from the rest of the Greek mainland by the Sea of Crete to the north and by the Mediterranean Sea to the west. The island with its mountainous rugged terrain and white sand coastal areas proved to be a great spot for international affairs and trade routes especially for the European, Africa, and Asia Minor merchants. Because of its isolated landscape, many scholars have proposed the existence of cultural interactions between Cretan civilization and those ...

Introduction

The end of the nineteenth century is the period of the final partition of Africa between the European powers. European states demanded the immediate "salvation" of “savages” and bringing the noble atmosphere of the church Sunday schools to Africa. One of the latest British acquisitions was the State of Benin, the remains of the once mighty forest empire. The art of Benin was developed under the direct influence of the more ancient culture of Ife. In the XV-XVII centuries this art has reached its zenith. At this time (1400) Benin kingdom (which previously recognized the authority of the supreme ...

Describe one student’s behavior from either scenario, including relevant examples of how this behavior affects the learning environment.

Liz is unable to follow the class for longer period. She has problem with paying attention to teacher’s instructions and finishing projects. She is very active and often leaves her seat and wander around the classroom. This distracts other students and prods some of them to follow her example. It also disrupts the lesson’s flow and prevents some students from following the class. Describe a possible trigger (i.e. antecedent) of student’s behavior, including relevant examples from the scenario to justify your claim. Liza might have attention deficit disorder. She is not able to focus during the ...

Comparison between the West vintage and Chinese vintage

The term vintage describes the most outstanding features from the past models. It is trying to outline the values and quality of the items of the past with the behavior of culture of that time. Vintage clothes are those that were produced and worn in the period after the year 1920 to the present day. To fully understand vintage, one should study the past lives of people and their contributions to the type of wear that time. Vintages contribute a lot to the kind of the present cloth designs or fashion, and therefore, it should be understood that the ...

Use of Language in the Contemporary Arts

In contemporary art, the ways and methods of artists in expressing their thought go beyond the mere replica of objects made as subjects for their art works. There are modern artists that explore various modes of expressionism. There are those who use the combination of words and letters in their works to give a message to their audience. Various artists practice the distinct combination of letters and figures and employment of words as part of the features of their practices in art. The use of words and letters in their artworks is also associated with the sense of authorship, ...

Adoration of the Magi

The artwork form a certain era or period says a lot about the culture the art comes from. By studying the symbolism, colors, and materials used in the art, it is easy to understand the culture that thrived during that time. Decoding the artistic elements in the portraits can help one learn as to what was necessary to the civilization of that era and how they wanted to be remembered. “Adoration of The Magi” by Giotto di Bondone, when studied speaks a lot about the culture and the features of the artistic movement in social, historical and artistic context. ...

Surfaces in visual arts evolve according to the technology present in a particular time. Surface in art is defined by the sense of touch which is either rough or smooth. Materials also contribute to the visual texture of the arts; for instance, the medieval paintings are done using variety of materials such as mosaics, vellum, and regular wall paintings or frescoes. The surfaces of a mosaic artwork is rough due to the raised pebbles making the texture rough, vellum was an animal based material used for scrolls and books, an animal skin is rough, therefore, vellum paintings also tend ...

Giotto's “Madonna Enthroned” is considered an important milestone in art history as it painted for the Florentine Church of Ognissanti. Painting was still under the influence of the Byzantine style where the figures were two-dimensional, stiff and evoked no emotional involvement. Without Giotto, the philosophical and artistic movements of Renaissance would never have surfaced. For the first time, Madonna and the Child are placed in a well-defined space, with Mary sitting on a throne that shows a perspective, thus moving towards realism. She holds the Child as a real mother would do. The folds of the garments drape and ...

Exploring the Art of Indigenous Culture

Central American Artifacts Caudle Cup by John Coney, a London-trained goldsmith (Around 1690) The cup was designed by the 17th century Goldsmith known as John Coney. It is a gourd shaped cup with two embellished beaded handles and there is a picture of a small child appears from the flower. The motif is the European floral imagery. The cup was probably designed for the marriage ceremony of John and Mary in around 1689. The Caudle cups were famous in England during second half of the 17th century in England. It was typically made of silver metal. Tankard made by ...

Introduction

As quoted by Lord Byron, when the Colosseum stands, Rome stands, and when the Colosseum falls, Rome falls and when Rome falls the world falls. This shows how the Colosseum was of great importance and iconic in nature of the people in Rome. It has remained to be the largest and the best-preserved amphitheaters in the history of Rome. Though other amphitheaters are well preserved, are currently used for purposes of modern entertainment, for example art galleries, sports and holding concerts. Games and entertainment activities were of great importance to the people and were used as a way of ...

Introduction

While the political avant-garde of modernist movement had a celebration of dissidence and proceeded to advocate a revolution of art and contemporary life, postmodern art delightfully exist in a world that shows the pluralism of atheistic manner and way of play. Art hardly ever functions on a critical level: the political prospect becomes separate from contemporary art functions. Postmodern art turns to represent not only the consumer society that we live but also a privileged commodity. In the 1960s, "committed" art had turned to be the pillar if artistic postmodernism. Gender issues, class, and race become central particularly following ...

Introduction

The Ottoman Empire was one of the world’s largest empires with history dates back to the Islamic medieval period from the 10th to 11th centuries. The main religion of the Ottoman Empire was Islam and most of their architecture and art was based on the religion as well. The beautiful buildings that exist today were the relics of the old Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire was originally founded in 1299 by the tribe who distinguished themselves as Oghus Turks under the rule of King Osman I. Ottoman empire stretched from the mainland Turkey and controlled various countries in ...

The World Art history knows a number of masterpieces that are significant for some particular period of art. This can be a “Mona Lisa” by Leonardo Da Vinci and even the cave art by the first people. All of them are carrying their own significance in this world and the history of the whole humanity in general. Taking to the consideration the fact that the originals of the art should be lead since the dawn of times, the art of the first people, who lived hundreds of centuries ago, is the fundament and the basis for all the following ...

Introduction

The art world recognizes timeless works of art that immortalized the famous great masters of all time such as Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, and among others. However, in a world of art dominated by men, few women made their mark until the modern arts movement paved the way for the emergence of women in art. The discussion will critique an exhibit featuring the works of female artists in the National Museum of Women in the Arts entitled “Salon Style”. In addition, the discussion will also determine the objectives behind the exhibition including identification of the issues revolving around the ...

Introduction

Photography is an important aspect used to represent an idea or history of a certain event. Photographs are currently used as a store of history for people and communities in the world. In the society, technological revolution has led to the invention of smart phones with powerful cameras used in photography. Photographs help in the remembrance of past events by keeping memories that cannot be altered. For instance, photography is used in the current society to understand past events such as World War I, World War II, and the American Revolution among many other past historic events in the ...

Nowadays we live in the global world, where cultures are tightly connected with each other and the traditions’ sharing process is developing day-to-day. Some cultures are absorbing features of other one, and some cultures are dissolving in more influential ones. Nevertheless we all need to understand that this process has not emerged at once – it takes its origins from the dawn of times and has been developing as the time flew. There are some essential ways of how one culture could be influencing or influenced by other one, such as the war actions and the trading. In this case, ...

The Context of the World of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Introduction Creative work in the arts emerges in the context of several elements. These create influences for the artist, painter and sculptor. For example, one’s appreciation of a Claude Monet painting is noticeably enhanced after visiting his garden and home in Giverny, France. The same is true of music composers. This brief essay examines important aspects of life surrounding composer Johann Sebastian Bach in the hope that reviewing general Baroque period influences, especially those from societal practices, visual ...

Introduction

Current Problem: Contemporary art is the work of post-modernist artists, which mirror the contemporary society and culture. Area of Focus: This paper focuses on the contemporary art movements that have emerged since its emergence in the late 1960s. Thesis Statement: Contemporary art aims at exploring different materials with the aim of expressing specific ideas about postmodern life (Waters, 2010). Investigating the different schools and styles of contemporary art that have existed since the late 1960s to the present day will result in a better understanding of how different periods and events influence artists.

Background

Transition from modern to contemporary art: ...

Kazimir Malevich's Suprematism Works

Kazimir Severinovich Malevich spent his childhood in villages of Ukraine1 and knew nothing about professional art, although he was exposed to peasant art as a child. Later he moved to Moscow and got his education in art in Moscow. His work was influenced by avant-garde painters of the time and he responded that art did not need the artists and can advance on its own.Thesis -The aim of the essay is to provide a broad overview of Malevich’s artistic practices and the Suprematism of his work. The paper discusses the reasoning and meaning behind his work and why ...

Introduction

The performance art is a unique genre of which the presentation focuses on the lively aspect than the elemental audio platforms. This has been the most valued element of arts since the Elizabethan times to the latest or postmodern world. The 20th century has been abuzz with stylistic enhancement in the performance arts, with archaic styles such as Futurism and Dada being upheld in this latest generation of art history. Moreover, the field of performance arts has replaced the old system of visual arts based on paintings and traditional sculptural works to a new aesthetics based on varying levels ...

COURSES

Introduction Art history in the United States has been characterized by a strong value on concrete data and conclusions and a corresponding suspicion of attempts to deduce intangibles according to Christine Hasemueller . There are parallels in the structure and the tangible works in art history.

Definitions

The terms that are used in this paper are a little confusing to most artisans but the concepts are truly recognizable to the artist. In an attempt to provide level playing field definitions of the three prominent terms will be examined before proceeding in this exciting topic.

Iconography

Iconography is generally viewed as religious art ...

It is evident from the effects in the music industry that revolutionary changes have occurred over time. Over the past years, technology has contributed a lot to the main changes in most industries. Moreover, technological changes globally have led to the major changes in the music industry. Innovations in the industrial revolution have brought about vast improvements in the music industry from 1800’s (Smith). Actually, changes in the industrial revolution lead to improvements in musical instruments, therefore, helped composers to improve on music production (Andrews). For instance, if one listens to past records that were produced before and ...

Italy is a historical visual art hub. This history has been largely approached from a classic, "Renaissance" perspective. In contrast, modern art history has witnessed dramatic changes in paradigm and focus. Given evolving modern movements, particularly modernist approaches as in First Futurist Manifesto of 1909, Italian visual art has witnessed rising of new artists inspired by past not for emulation but for emphasizing new, modernist art statements. The "Italy in International Modernism: Modernism – 1909 to the Present" is case in point. Being a course offering focused on modernist schools and approaches to Italian visual art history, The "Italy in ...

The eighth and ninth Byzantium was one of the most unfortunate in the history of art and architecture. The growth of art and architecture was partially stunted due to the desire to attain political correctness. In that period, political correctness meant following the edicts issued by the emperor. During that time, the emperor issued an edict banning the use of icons. One of the icons that would have drawn a lot of controversy in the eighth and ninth-century Byzantium is the icon of the Virgin and Child Enthroned between Saints and Angels. The Icon is found in the Monastery ...

Mary Stevenson Cassatt was a prominent American Impressionist and the first female to launch her own exhibit in the Paris Salon. In her time, there few women who managed to succeed in the field of art, especially for a colonial. She was educated by famous French masters such as Degas and spent most of her time copying the artworks of the previous masters. Cassatt first studied arts in the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts between 1860 up to 1862. As a woman, her determination is quite remarkable as she managed to successfully persuade her parents to let her ...

Synesthesia is an event by which the prompting of one sense group gives stimulation to a sensation in another group. The term synesthesia according to Campen and Froger (2008), comes from the Greek terms syn that means together and aesthesis which means to perceive.1 At present, the most popular and widely known form of synesthesia is the hearing of vowels or music in color. Campen and Froger (2008) also add that the different types of synesthesia such as the sense of smell is stimulated by one or more senses such as hearing and sight.2 Color Synesthesia for one is ...

Question 1:

The Chattri and the Muqarnas

The Chattri is a memorial which was built in appreciation and recognition of the input of the Indian Army in subduing the enemy in the First World War (Chattri.com n.p.). Chattri is a word meaning umbrella in Punjab, Urdu and Hindi. Its umbrella-like design also signifies protection. There is an annual pilgrimage ritual which is done to remember the soldiers.

Muqarnas is a prominent feature of Islamic architecture used in the Muslim world. This style consists of domes, niches and doorways. Their function is primarily decorative although they are solutions to structural problem as well. They give an occasionalist perspective of the ...

Among the greatest exponents of Impressionism, one of the most important artistic movements of the 19th century, Claude Monet has become one of the most recognizable Western artists of all time.

La Grenouillère was painted in 1869. Its medium is oil on canvas and this version is exhibited in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (Claude Monet). The artist depicts a sunny day of leisure during summer. A few boats can be seen in the foreground probably tied on the dock. In the center a platform in the river is full of people. Some are being seen ...

When Jacques Louis David created The Oath of the Horatii, in 1784-1785, France was on the verge of the Revolution that would come just a few years later in 1789. David would play a role in it and was its ardent supporter (Tansey and Kleiner, 917). Enlightenment rose as a philosophical ideal that had an impact in art. It suggested that art should have a moral dimension and serve as a lesson to the viewer. At the same ...

“Art is a proof of the existence of humankind” were the words that became my inspiration to understand and acquire arts with a whole new perspective. I was attending an Art Festival several years back where a renowned lecturer’s mentioned words paved a new path for me to follow. Although I already had an interest in the subject, his insightful lecture triggered my curiosity to gain more knowledge of art’s history and to dig into the subject for understanding it better.

After attaining Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education, I am currently in the first ...

Chapter 1 Lesson 1 Checking Your Understanding page 5

- There are a variety of different ways that art can be around the world. Art can be in a book that is being read, the furniture that is being sit on, and in the video games that people play on a regular basis. Basically, art can be anything that a person sees, has seen, or might imagine like advertisements on TV, Internet, toys, fashion, cars, paintings, and movies. - Perceive means to become aware through the senses of the special nature of objects. When a person uses their sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste to perceive an object, a person will better understand ...

The sixteenth-century Inca Empire was one of the largest states in the worldat that time. It included most parts of modern Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and northern Chile and reached into contemporary Argentina. The Inca called their empire the Land of the Four Quarters, which began as a state of many small rival kingdoms. To hold this linguistically and ethnically diverse state together, they depended on religion, a well-organised bureaucracy, and different forms of labor taxation.

Inca’s one of the expressive forms was their religion, which rituals were aimed at winning the favor of the gods, who were often equaled to ...

Watteau's The Storm and Delacroix's The Sea of Galilee. Which of these paintings represents more of a Romantic work and which one more of a Neo-Classical work? How the differences between the paintings reflect differences in the Neo-Classical and Romantic styles?

Both depicting a storm, Watteau’s The Storm and Delacroix’s The Sea of Galilee may share a common subject but also display significant differences that are based not only on the different approach each artist had, but also on the specific style they chose to follow. Watteau’s work dates from the second half of the 18th century, while ...

It is always interesting to be able to compare two works of art with the same subject but from different artists and different periods in the history of art. The two statues of David, created by Michelangelo and Bernini, the first in 1504 and the second in 1625 provide an excellent opportunity to compare and contrast not only the styles of the individual artists, but also the styles of the Renaissance and the Baroque respectively.

Chronologically, Michelangelo and his David are older and will therefore be considered first. Michelangelo was one of the greatest artists of the Renaissance and ...

Hellenistic Civilizations

a. Art form or medium b. Purpose of the piece c. Individual or group responsible for the piece d. Meaning of the work e. The culture and the artist f. Influence by art and culture from previous civilizations g. Relation to artwork within the same civilization or era h. Meaning and value of the piece in modern-day cultures The different art forms and media whether architecture, music, visual art, or literature from different past civilization offer the modern civilization spectacular cultures and pieces that continue to greatly influence and act as a ...

”No Woman No cry”

One of the most interesting types of art that has always been depicting the main specifications of different time periods in the art history were paintings. Special place here has to be given to portraits that depicted people that lived in different time periods and the way people were seen by the painter in particular and the society in general. Artists have been using women to express their attitude to society for centuries. That is why women’s portraits are used for the current project proposal. The current project proposal is connected with two artworks from very different ...

Artemisia Gentileschi is one of the few female artists whose name and work have survived in modern times. She lived during a period when women were considered inferior to men and thus not capable of creating serious art. The daughter of a painter, she managed to establish herself as an artist, one of the first women to do so and was rediscovered by feminist art historians in the 20th century. In fact Chadwick (2007, 100) says that Artemisia ‘is the first woman artist in the history of Western art whose historical significance is unquestionable’. Her life was not easy and establishing ...

OUTLINE AND RESOURCES REPORT OUTLINE

Introductory paragraph

Artemisia Gentileschi is one of the few female artists whose name and work have survived in modern times. She lived during a period when women were considered inferior to men and thus not capable of creating serious art. The daughter of a painter, she managed to establish herself as an artist, one of the first women to do so, and was rediscovered by feminist art historians in the 20th century. Thesis statement: Gentileschi’s experiences in life, as a woman in a male-dominated world, are clearly shown in her art, and particularly through the robust and strong ...

The History of the Toilette of Venus

The Toilette of Venus is a piece of art that has had a significant impact in the history of art. This is due to the impact that it has had through creating inspiration through its unique state. This is where the ancient piece of history that has been effectively integrated to the art industry due to its nature. Through reviewing the history of the piece of art, it is evident that it has been inspired by events that drove the artist to passionately create the painting. It is inevitable to state that art is a passion that is well put by ambition ...

Introduction:

Bronze vessels of the Shang period have been preserved largely due to the fact that, they were buried in the tombs of the great of both female and male figures. Their primary use at the time of their manufacture was in banquets and temples at which the sacrifice of food was offered to their royal ancestors. They were buried with their owners so that they could continue to sacrifice to the higher powers even after they had died and become ancestors in their turn. As such, the vessels were evidence of power, an aspect that became even more sharply ...

Antonello da Messina created the Portrait of a Young Gentleman in 1474. This is the picture of a man, as the title denotes, and we can presume that this is the actual likeness of an individual, as the characteristics of the face seem to be particularly telling even to the point of depicting unflattering details, like the big nose. Dressed primarily in black, with a grey undershirt, the man is presented in a three-quarter view staring directly at the viewer, confronting him/ her with what art historians call a ‘steady gaze’ (‘Portrait of a young gentleman’). The clothes of the man, although simple, seem to ...

Comparison and Contrast Analysis

The Last Supper, Leonardo da Vinci, 1495-1498 Art Analysis 2 Virgin and Child, Antonio Veneziano c. 1380 Art Analysis 3 I decided to compare and contrast The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, painted between 1495 and 1498 and Virgin and Child by Antonio Veneziao painted around 1380. The Last Supper is representative of the Renaissance period that had its birthplace in Italy where daVinci lived and worked it housed in a convent, Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy. Madonna and Child is an example of Gothic period and is on display at the Museum ...

Article Review

The idea of art history represents a historical framework that is based in the inherent identity of the culture from which it is being expressed. In this way, there are numerous ways of characterizing the ways in which these various cultures can express themselves. By establishing a coherent representation of the historical importance of art in politics and culture, the establishment of this perspective is ultimately refocused into the framework from which it emerges. In the essay “Whither Art History In a Globalizing World” by Parul Dave Mukherji discusses the subject of art history, its definition, and its place and importance ...

- Introduction Greek sculpture is often what people think of when they consider the idea of “classical” sculpture. Greek and Roman sculpture has long been considered some of the most influential to the western art world; these pieces, particularly from the High Classical period, are still influential on artists today. This discussion will focus on the High Classical period of Athenian Greek sculpture, notably from the years 449 BCE- 404 BCE. Earlier Athenian sculpture took many cues from Near Eastern and Egyptian art. Greek artists began, however, to focus more heavily on form and realism as time ...

Part 1

Question 1 Bible from Paris ca 1250-1275 Illuminated manuscripts are some of the best known objects from the Middle Ages. Made and illustrated by hand, they are truly works of art. Monks and nuns were often the creators of these books as monasteries were centers of learning. Manuscripts were used by the monks or churches during liturgies (Department of Medieval Art and the Cloisters, 2001). Other manuscripts were commissioned and used by royals and aristocrats or by universities that started to emerge during that time. In a world where the printing press that made books widespread had not ...

Introduction

Jeanne Randolph is an independent speaker who works as a public speaker and writer. Her work and performances have been based on spectator sports, doodads, advertising, visual arts, western philosophy, psychoanalytical theories (Donna, 2013). Her literary work has been highly acclaimed by the critics and readers. Her first book was Psychoanalysis and Synchronized Swimming, which gathered much appreciation among masses. Her other commendable writings include Symbolization and its Discontents (1997), Why Stoics Box: essays on art and society (2003). Her recent publication Ethics of luxury (2007) is also getting famous (Art History and Visual Art Department, 2014). The topic of ...

Even if people refuse to acknowledge it, death is something that most fear. Despite being part of human’s natural existence, and something that is certain to happen to eveyone and everything that has life, some culture are not comfortable talking about death and has considered it a taboo topic. When it comes to this issue, people try to detach themselves and with this distancing, terminologies commonly uses to refer to it have grown in number through the years. Euphemistic language referring to death include “no longer with us,” “gone to meet their Creator,” “have passed on,” and others (Patricelli). ...

The history of photography in China dates back to the nineteenth century in early times. European photographers had arrived in China at this time and were at a place called Macao. These Western photographers decided to set up studios in the coastal cities of China, and this was during the 1850’s. The western photographers were later exposed to competition and their Chinese assistants associated with the local competitors and spread to all regions of China. It is by the end of the nineteenth century that all the major cities had photographic studios with the spread of photography (Hammond et ...

Gustave Courbet (1819-1877), was a French painter who is apparently one among many controversial men in the history of Art (Hoving 155). He is well known for having spearheaded the realist movement that was predominant in 19th century. Gustave Courbet committed himself to painting what he could see and strongly rebuffed romanticism and academic conventions that had been developed by the preceding generations of visual artists. These in essence stirred controversies in regards to this painter. Choosing to do his work independently set an example to the painters that came after him. As recorded, Gustave Courbet is perceived as an ...