Great Art Movements from Prehistoric Art to Impressionism.

The aesthetic of art and its transformation

In order to explain Great Art Movements from Prehistoric Art to Impressionism, We all have our own sensibilities when it comes to visual art. When a new trend is brought to our attention most of us could ask, “What is that...?”

A black dot on a white canvas is interpreted by the “experts” as fine art, specified as “high brows art”. Those super cultivated and familiar with high brows art will see the meaning of life in the dot. The others including me will see a blank canvas with a back dot. I asked myself, do we have to feel stupid for not seeing the philosophy and meaning behind the black dot? I decided to educate myself and hope that you will follow me on my journey.

Prehistoric Art from 40,000-4,000 B.C;

the cave wall paintings, depicting daily life and vision of the world around.

Ancient Art from 4,000BC-AD 4000;

Great Art Movements from Prehistoric Art to Impressionism

When writing appeared, and civilizations like Mesopotamia, Greece, Egypt, and Rome (among others) developed a monarchical societies with sophisticated urbanization, art served to tell stories, decorate utilitarian objects like bowls and weapons, wall frescos displaying religious and symbolic themes and demonstrate social status

Man Holding a Lyre
Oil Jar with a Man Holding a Lyre

Renaissance Art (1400–1600)

To know about Great Art Movements from Prehistoric Art to Impressionism, The Middle Ages was referred to as the “Dark Ages,” after the fall of the Roman Empire in 476. But it was also a time of great discovery and inventions in science, technology, and mathematics. Religion managed every moment of everyone’s life. Cathedrals flourish as a gateway to heaven, religious themes adorned their walls and ceiling. Rich Patron like the Medici of Florence a great patron of the Arts, it was a time of rebirth, Renaissance was born, Leornado da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael focused on realism and human anatomy, and expression.

The Virgin and child with St. Anne
The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne is an unfinished oil painting by High Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci, dated to c. 1501–1519. It depicts Saint Anne, her daughter the Virgin Mary and the infant.

Mannerism (1527–1580)

Renaissance artists, and mannerism artists stepped away from the subject matter and focus on style and techniques, stylized their compositions, removing classical ideals of harmonious composition and linear perspective.  Giorgio Vasari, Francesco Salviati are considered to be among the favorite Mannerism painter in Florence.

Baroque (1600–1750)n1gallery

The Baroque period used intense contrast between light and dark, energetic compositions matched by rich color palettes, the compositions were primary all about drama. Caravaggio and Dutch painter Rembrandt.

Rococo (1699–1780)

Rococo originated in Paris, in the opposite spectrum Rococo primarily used lighthearted elegant carefree composition using fresh pastel and light colors set in pastoral scenes. Like Antoine Watteau and Francois Boucher.

Neoclassicism (1750–1850)

Neoclassical artist renewed interest in the classics, they were influenced by classical elements focusing on idealism with a modern touch. Joseph Mary Vien and Jacques-Louis David.

Romanticism (1780–1850)

Romanticism  In the mist of the French Revolution and the heroic battle of the Napoleonic war emerged passionate artists who paintings against the restrained of academic art of establishment. Artists also focused on passion, emotion, and sensation over intellect and reason. “Plein Air Painting” made its debut. Francisco De Goya and Eugene Delacroix. It is also explained in the picture that how Great Art Movements from Prehistoric Art to Impressionism 2022.

The Happy Accident of the Swing
Jean-Honore Fragonard, The Happy Accidents of the Swing, 1767

Realism (1848–1900)

Realism, began in France in the 1840s. Realism was a result of multiple events: the anti-Romantic movement in Germany, the realism rejected the heighten emotionalism and drama of the Romantic movement. Instead, it sought to depict real people and life with all its faults and short comings. The movement aimed to focus on none idealized subjects and events. Gustave Courbet and Edouard Manet.

Art Nouveau (1890–1910)

Artist painted only what they could physically see, applied arts, graphics, and illustration. It focused on the natural world, characterized by long, sinuous lines and curves. Influential Art Nouveau artists worked in a variety of media.  Alphonse Mucha and Gustav Klimt.

Impressionism (1865–1885)

Impressionist The most popular movement created by a group of french disenchanted artist rejected by Salon des Beaux Arts, they created Salon des Refusés to showcase their paintings. These young Artists sought to capture the immediate impression, color, a moment. Impressionist artists find their subject in every day life like ballrooms, seashores , cabaret or fields. This could be the same subject at different time or season. Claude Monet, Paul Gaugin, Vincent van Gogh.

Post-Impressionism (1885–1910)

Post-Impressionist painters distance themselves from the impressionist by removing all details from the subjects focusing only to basic, abstract, geometrical forms and broad color strokes to bring forth the essence of the work. Toulouse Lautrec and Paul Cezanne

Starry Night, Post Impressionism Art Movement
The Starry Night is an oil-on-canvas painting by the Dutch Post-Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh. Painted in June 1889

This is how everything works for a Great Art Movements from Prehistoric Art to Impressionism

In conclusion,

Great Art Movements from Prehistoric Art to Impressionism have Every movement spurn from the old one. New crops of artists experiment new ways of looking at their surrounding, and revisit the old masters. What is popular doesn’t mean better, it is just more recognized. I have my preference in style but I keep an open mind the new comers. Take time to visit museums or galleries on the web or in person, see what is out there, you will be plaisantly surprised.

“What moves men of genius, or rather what inspires their work, is not new ideas, but their
obsession with the idea that what has already been said is still not enough.”

Eugene Delacroix

Suggested sites for Great Art Movements from Prehistoric Art to Impressionism :

Museum: Metropolitan Museum, MoMA, Guggenheim.

Galleries.Virtual Art Exhibitions to Enjoy from the comfort of your home

Sibel Meydan Johnson

Born in Turkey, Sibel Meydan Johnson lived and studied in Mons Belgium most of her life. She graduated with honors with a major in Liberal Arts. In 1990 Sibel left her hometown for New York City. She worked for several years as a production assistant for " En Plein Air Masters" one of the first online plein air artists mentor programs then as director of production for Brush With Life TV’s series on visual art. Today Sibel is an autodidact painter, Freelance writer specializing in art and the business of art. Mother and wife, she is a full-time artist. Sibel's art captures and brings forth the hidden emotion of his subjects and evoke a sense of curiosity and introspection pushing the boundaries of creativity and expression, her work often combines elements of abstraction and realism, creating a unique and captivating visual experience that sometimes disturb the viewers.