WEEK 7-8 ART APP

READING THE IMAGE

Art has two interrelated aspects.
Two interrelated aspects in the study of art:
1) The first is that art has its specificity: that is, its particular language or vocabulary has something to
do with the mediums, techniques, and visual elements of art that constitute it as a distinct area of
human knowledge and signifying practice.
2) The other aspect is that art, while it has its specificity, is at the same time historically situated and
shaped by social, economic, and political forces.
Both these aspects need to be taken into account so as to be able to fully understand and appreciate
art.
For a study of the formal elements alone will not lead to a full understanding of the work, in the same
way that the exclusive study of the social determinants risks collapsing the artistic into the
sociological.
Meaning in art is a complex of intellectual, emotional, and sensory significations which the work
conveys and to which the viewer responds, bringing in the breadth of his or her cultural background,
artistic exposure and training, and human experience in a dialogic relationship with the art work.
The analytic study of how the various elements and material features of the work produce meaning
should lead to a more stable and consensual field of meaning, away from erratic, whimsical, purely
subjective and impressionistic readings.
FOUR PLANES OF ANALYSIS

1. THE BASIC SEMIOTIC PLANE - is the study of "signs”. It consists of “signifier" or its
material/physical aspect and its "signified" or non-material aspect as concept and value.
The visual elements and how they are used conveys meaning which form the text of the work. It also
includes the choice of medium and technique that refers to material and style that the artist exercises
free selection. Then, the format of the work which are symbolic representations that participates in its
meaning (fragment). Lastly the physical properties and marks of the work such as notations, traces,
and marks(fragment). Semiotic plane is concerned with everything that can be taken as a sign. The
elements of the visual arts derive their meaning-conveying potential from two large sources: human
psychophysical experiences and the socio-cultural conventions of a particular society and period

2. THE ICONIC PLANE OR THE IMAGE ITSELF- is still part of the semiotic approach since it is
still based on the signifier-signified relationship. The only difference is that that material elements
of the work has something to do with the particular features, aspects, and qualities of the image. The
iconic plane includes the choice of the subject which may bear social and political implications. Also
part of the iconic plane is the positioning of the figure (frontal, in profile, three-fourths, etc.) that
implies its bearing to the meaning of the work.
This is important not only in defining the relationship of subject and viewer but also in describing
pictorial space. This plane also takes into account the relationship of the figures to one another,
whether massed, isolated, or juxtaposed in terms of affinity or contrast. The style of figuration or the
proportion of the body deals with the image itself. In the basic semiotic plane which deals with the
material aspect of the work and in the iconic plane which deals with the features of the image itself,
one can see that as the signifier cannot be separated from the signified, concrete fact or material data
cannot be divorced from value.
3. THE CONTEXTUAL PLANE- Resituating the work in its context will bring out the full meaning
of the work in terms of its human and social implications. The viewer draws out the dialogic
relationship of art and society. If one does not view the work in relation to its context, but chooses to
confine analysis to the internal structure of the work then he reduces its meaning. The meaning of a
work is a complex that involves concepts, values, emotions, attitudes, atmospheres and sensory
experiences that arise from the three planes. The experience of a work cannot be reduced. A broad
knowledge of history and the economic, political and cultural conditions, past and present, of a
society is called upon in the contextual plane. It shows progress of time.
4. EVALUATIVE PLANE -it has something to do with analyzing the values of a work. The plane
of analysis that examines the value of work having a dialogic relationship with public. The evaluation
of a work necessarily includes the analysis and examination of its axiological content since values are
expressed in the work which holds a dialogic relationship with reality. The style of figuration where
subject is taken from visible world; object may be stylized but still recognizable.
WEEK 8

Cave Art
Importance of Cave Art

Cave art is significant because it was what people in prehistoric times did in order to record
history and culture. But, prehistoric cave art was also significant because it also served as a warning to
people who were to come later. For example, they could show the way to kill a beast or warn them of a
beast. In today’s generation, this art helps us indicate the ability to think symbolically, and to
be creative. It’s truly astounding that this art is old and survived.

Prehistoric Art: Paleolithic Origins

Humans make art. We do this for many reasons and with whatever technologies are available to
us. Extremely old, non-representational ornamentation has been found across Africa. The oldest
firmly-dated example is a collection of 82,000-year-old Nassarius snail shells found in Morocco that
are pierced and covered with red ochre. Wear patterns suggest that they may have been strung
beads.

Nassarius shell beads found in Israel may be more than 100,000 years old and in the Blombos cave
in South Africa, pierced shells and small pieces of ochre (red Haematite) etched with simple geometric
patterns have been found in a 75,000-year-old layer of sediment.

The oldest known representational imagery comes from the Aurignacian culture of the Upper
Paleolithic period. The Aurignacian is an archaeological tradition of the Upper Paleolithic
associated with European early modern humans lasting from 43,000 to 26,000 years ago.
Archeological discoveries across a broad swath of Europe (especially Southern France, Northern
Spain, and Swabia, in Germany) include over two hundred caves with spectacular Aurignacian
paintings, drawings and sculpture that are among the earliest undisputed examples of
representational image-making.
 
The oldest of these is a 2.4-inch tall female figure carved out of mammoth ivory that was found in
six fragments in the Hohle Fels cave near Schelklingen in southern Germany. It dates to 35,000
B.C.E. (see image below)

The caves at Chauvet-Pont-d’Arc (see the image below), Lascaux, Pech Merle, and Altamira
contain the best known examples of prehistoric painting and drawing. Here are remarkably
evocative renderings of animals and some humans that employ a complex mix of naturalism and
abstraction. Archeologists that study Paleolithic (old stone age) era humans, believe that the
paintings discovered in 1994, in the cave at Chauvet-Pont-d’Arc in the Ardèche valley in France,
are more than 30,000 years old. The images found at Lascaux and Altamira are more recent,
dating to approximately 15,000 B.C.E. The paintings at Pech Merle date to both 25,000 and 15,000
B.C.E. Cave painting with bison, rhinos, and horses.

What can we really know about the creators of these paintings and what the images originally
meant? These are questions that are difficult enough when we study art made only 500 years ago.
It is much more perilous to assert meaning for the art of people who shared our anatomy but had
not yet developed the cultures or linguistic structures that shaped who we have become. Do the
tools of art history even apply? Here is evidence of a visual language that collapses the more than
1,000 generations that separate us, but we must be cautious. This is especially so if we want
understand the people that made this art as a way to understand ourselves. The desire to
speculate based on what we see and the physical evidence of the caves is wildly seductive.
 
       The earliest known rock paintings are dated to the Upper Paleolithic, 40,000 years  ago, while
the  earliest European  cave paintings date to 32,000  years ago.

       The earliest known rock paintings are dated to the Upper Paleolithic, 40,000 years ago, while
the earliest European cave paintings date to 32,000 years ago. This period was marked by the rise
of the homo sapiens and their ever developing ability to create tools and weapons “OLD STONE
AGE”. 
       Cave art is the painting or drawing of figures called pictographs and petroglyphs to portray a
story or
to record known history. It is sometimes even used to design plans for hunting or gathering.  

IN ALTIMIRA, SPAIN…
The first cave paintings were found in 1870 in Altimira, Spain by Don Marcelino and his daughter. 
They were painted by the Magdalenian people between 16,000-9,000 BC.  This would have been
11,000-19,000 years ago. These paintings are sometimes called “The Sistine Chapel of Paleolithic
Art”.
In Lascaux, France…
There are two boys two boys chased after their dog into a hole where their ball got stuck in. When
they followed the dog, they were astonished/surprised to discover a cave with beautiful paintings at
Lascaux Cave, France in 1940.  These paintings were created around 15,000 BC, which would
make them about 17,000 years old.  There are seven chambers in the Lascaux cave; the Great
Hall of the Bulls, the Painted Gallery, the Lateral Passage, the Chamber of Engravings, the Main
Gallery, the Chamber of Felines, and the Shaft of the Dead Man.

Paleolithic art is intricately bound to anthropological and archaeological studies. It concerned itself
with either food (hunting scenes, animal carvings). Its predominant theme was animals. It is
considered to be an attempt, by Stone Age peoples, to gain some sort of control over their
environment, whether by magic or ritual. It represents a giant leap in human cognition: abstract
thinking.
 
       Humans had not known how to write during the prehistoric time period.   So, they
communicated through cave paintings. Prehistoric humans were basically hunters. Thus, most
paintings are of animals. Early paintings are believed to be of social and religious significance. The
 painting of the animal sends a message to its spirit, that great respect is intended and that only
those needed for survival will be hunted and killed.
There are three general themes that tend to appear in cave paintings:
1. Humans
Humans are rarely depicted in caves.  When they are shown, they are drawn as a cartoon-like
silhouette. 
2. Animals
The most abundant animal depictions are those of horses.  A quarter of all the animal images
painted in caves in Western Europe are horses.  Images of Bison are also very common.  The
animals tend to be painted larger than the other images. 

3. Signs
   Signs are abstract symbols that are difficult to interpret because of their ambiguity.  Signs are
commonly associated with hunting equipment and the female form.   

INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE during this period:

Cro-Magnons
       Cro-Magnons were the first species of the Homo sapiens sapiens.  They lived in Europe
during the period before the emergence of Indo-Europeans, from 40,000 to 8,000 BCE. The
Magdalenian civilization of cro-magnons, which populated Spain and France, were responsible for
the cave paintings found in Lascaux, France dating about 17,000 years ago and Altamira, Spain
dating about 12,000 years ago.
Shamans
       The shaman would retreat into the darkness of the caves, enter into a trance state and then
paint images of their visions, perhaps with some notion of drawing power out of the cave walls
themselves. Shamanism is a form of worship based on direct, personal interaction between a
shaman and the spirit world. Typically, this interaction occurred when the shaman entered a
trance, or altered state of consciousness, sometimes state, the shaman could obtain supernatural
power in the form of a spirit helper.
MEDIUM of artwork during this period:
       Prehistoric people would have used natural objects to paint the walls of the caves. To etch into
the rock, they could have used sharp tools or a spear. The paint or color that they probably used
was from berries, clay, soot, charcoal or animal fat. The tools used to apply the paint could have
been made by attaching straw, leaves, moss, or hair to sticks. They might have used hollow bones
or reeds to spray the color on, similar to an airbrush technique. Their art forms painting, drawings,
engravings, and handprints

Week 9-10: Art History

Art History
            Art history is the study of objects of art considered within their time period. Art historians
analyze visual arts’ meaning (painting, sculpture, architecture) at the time they were created.
            Art history is not simply listing all the art movements and placing them on a timeline. It is the
study of objects of art considered within their time period. Art historians analyze visual arts’ meaning
(painting, sculpture, architecture) at the time they were created. Also, another of art history’s mission
is to establishes authorial origins of artworks, i.e. discovering who created a particular artwork, when,
when and for what reason.
  
            Iconography is a major part of art history. It consists in analyzing the symbolism of works of
arts. For instance, art historians identify the visual elements of a painting and interpret its meaning.
Art historians are interested in what the works of art represented at the time they were created. It is a
way to learn about the civilizations of the past.
 
Beginning of Architecture
       The beginning of architecture was when the early man began the practice of burying the dead.
The first architectural structures were the menhirs, dolmens, and cromlechs. They were associated with
funeral and religious purpose

1. Menhirs were simple monuments consisting of a single large piece of stone called megalith.

2. Dolmens were made up of a number of vertical megaliths with a horizontal slab spanning them. They
are beginning of post-and-lintel system (this is a building system where strong horizontal elements are
held up by strong vertical elements with large spaces between
3. Cromlechs were more complex structures made up of a number of megaliths in concentric circles
extending over a wide area. An example of the cromlech is the famous Stonehenge in Salisbury Plain,
England, which served as a huge calendar.
River Civilization
At the onset of warmer weather throughout the world, man migrated and settled along the banks of
the river:
The first writing system was invented: The cuneiform writing of the Phoenicians
Cuneiform is a system of writing first developed by the ancient Sumerians of Mesopotamia c. 3500-
3000 BCE. It is considered the most significant among the many cultural contributions of the
Sumerians and the greatest among those of the Sumerian city of Uruk which advanced the writing
of cuneiform c. 3200 BCE.
 
                   In Mesopotamia arose the kingdoms of Sumeria and Babylonia. The first codes of law
were drawn up, the most famous of which is the Code of Hammurabi with its principles: “Eye for an
eye, a tooth for a tooth.” - or the law of retaliation is the principle that a person who has injured
another person is to be penalized to a similar degree by the injured party. In softer interpretations,
it means the victim receives the estimated value of the injury in compensation.

In Babylonia, known for its Tower of Babel, was erected the ziggurat, a tower-like structure which
strove to reach the skies. Sculpture was generally associated with the religious function. All the
arts were in the service of religion and the glory of the ruler.

Egyptian Art
            The art of the Egypt was closely knit with religion and its very core is profound preoccupation
with death and immortality. The basic religious scripture was the Book of the Dead with its funeral
prayers and rituals. The remains of the dead were preserved through mummification, and their image
was preserved in painting and sculpture. Egyptians devoted more time in the building of tombs rather
than the construction of dwellings. The earlier and simpler type of tomb was the mastaba. This later
developed, with the addition of several levels into the step pyramid.
 PYRAMIDS
            The great pyramids of the kings, especially that of King Khufu or Cheops, were the highest
points of Pyramid construction. Within the chambers of the royal dead were spacious apartments with
interconnecting corridors. Here the treasures of Pharaoh were kept. The king’s mummy was
concealed beneath several layers of gold and silver sarcophagi, which also doubled as full-length
images of Pharaoh. All around the walls were painting of the king surrounded by his family and other
deities. These paintings were stylized linear geometric style. The paintings, with the face in profile,
have a fully delignated eye, and the shoulders in frontal position.
TEMPLES
            It is in the ancient Egypt temples that the visual arts – painting, sculpture, and architecture –
found fullest expression.  Egyptian architecture developed the use of post-and-lintel system. It is also
made use of columns with lotus and papyrus. Examples of temples were:

History: The Abu Simbel Temples were constructed during the rule of Pharaoh Ramesses II in
around 1264 BCE. The pharaoh commissioned the construction of the monuments as a
commemoration of his victory against the Hittite Empire led at the ancient city of Kadesh during the
Battle of Kadesh in May 1274 BCE. The temples were also meant to showcase Egyptian religious
superiority to its neighbors. Archeologists and historians believe that it took 20 years to complete
the temples which were dedicated to the Egyptian deities Ptah and Ra-Horakhty.
Ancient Greek Art
                  The Greeks were known to excel in various fields and aspects of society. For example,
their political ideals eventually became the framework for the democratic form of government in
modern times.
 They also valued poetry, drama, and philosophy, which remain interesting fields of study for the
contemporary times. For those who want to be involved in arts such as painting, sculpture, and
architecture, it is required to have a certain skill sets and body of knowledge.
 The Greeks were known to place prime importance in the use of reason. For the civilization, man
was at the center of society and how they train their minds could be the very foundation of how they
lived their lives. The humanist ideals of the Greeks were reflected in their democratic form of
government.
 This certain level of freedom was also reflected in their artworks, architecture, literature, and
philosophy. They were notably passionate about natural phenomenon and believed that nature
should be in perfect order. These principles, belief system, and ideologies are at the core of Greek art
and architecture.
The development of Greek art can be divided into four periods:

1.
1. Geometric Period was a time when Greece was starting to get back from the onslaught
of what seemed to be their Dark Ages. It was a period when geometric shapes and patterns have
taken the spotlight in most of the artworks.

2. Archaic Period, on the other hand, placed importance on human figures. This was primarily a
result of Greece's trading activities with other civilizations
3. Classical Period - The peak of Greek sculpture and architecture. In the early 5th century
Greek artists began consciously to attempt to render human and animal forms realistically.
This entailed careful observation of the model as well as understanding the mechanics of anatomy -
how a body adjusts to a pose which is not stiffly frontal but with the weight shifted to one side of the
body, and how a body behaves in violent motion.

4. Hellenistic Period. It was during this time when the Greeks found themselves rebuilding their
temples and focusing on creating artworks. The time of Alexander the Great was called
the Hellenistic Period. During this time, art was primarily focused on showcasing emotions and
depicting reality. Hellenistic sculptures started to emphasize balance while showcasing dynamic
poses and a number of emotions evoked by the subjects.
His Sons." The sculpture depicts Laocoon, a Trojan priest, and his sons being strangled by
serpents. Their position was a result of Laocoon's instructions during the Trojan War. He instructed to
keep the gates of Troy locked up because he felt that the wooden horse offered by the Greeks as a
gift to Athena was a trick. Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea was enraged by such action which led
him to send serpents to strangle Laocoon and his sons. (This is an example of work wherein the
Greeks emphasized the details of the body. Most subjects of their work included that of the gods from
Greek mythology)           
The origins of theater and drama can be traced back during the Greek civilization. The followers of Dionysus-
the god of fertility-started the Greek theater. People who devoted to Dionysus would dance during ceremonies
while giving their offerings to their god. Eventually, the Dionysians devised a more structured form of drama
involving dances and choral songs, which depicted Greek mythologies. Eventually the Greeks organized
theatrical contests where the performances were held in front of large citizens.

Ancient Rome Art

           The Roman Republic was established around 500 BCE. This civilization eventually
transformed into one of Western Europe's mightiest empires. Since they had expanded and covered
many territories, they interacted with neighboring civilizations, particularly with the Greeks. It can be
said that Roman civilization came of age during the Hellenistic Period. As mentioned earlier, it was a
period when the Greek culture's influence has reached its peak in the Mediterranean world. The
Romans were fond of the Greeks and their achievements in the arts. The fusion of Greek and Roman
cultures can be seen in most Roman artworks. Some would argue that the Romans merely copied
Greek art. This eventually made the Romans produce artworks that are often looking stern, harsh,
and strong. They also invoked the principles of realism in most of their works, highlighting the
features of human beings. Aside from this, the Romans were also known to be master builders, which
earned their reputation for grand monuments and architectural infrastructures. One of their
architectural achievements would have to be the Colosseum. This amphitheater was planned and
constructed during the reign of Emperor Vespasian. One of its main uses was for entertainment
purposes like public events and gladiator games. This structure was a concrete manifestation of
Roman builders' craftsmanship which focused on logical organization of the entire edifice.
Image online Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/perseus-medusa-main-florence-3789293/
 

“Poseidon and Medusa." Just like the Greeks, the Romans valued their gods and this was
evident with their sculptures and artworks. Ancient Greece had a huge impact in the formation of
Roman culture. There are a lot of Greek influences evident in Roman theater and drama. Writers of
comedy like Plautus and Terence have patterned their works to those of Greek works. Since the
Roman audience was not as enthusiastic about theatrical works unlike their Greek counterparts,
most plays had to be included in the Roman games.
 
 Middle Ages
           
***Lesson for Week 10***
 
Renaissance Art
                    During the Renaissance Period, artists valued the "individual" as a subject of arts. The
influence of humanism shifted the focus of some artworks during the Renaissance Period to empower
the "individual." Most artworks emphasized naturalism, which was also an influence of humanism
since there was a great emphasis on the proportionality of the human body. Most artists also added
perspective of depth wherein spaces were explored in different artworks. This technique provided a
three-dimensional perspective of most Renaissance paintings, Renaissance artists also gave
importance to non-religious themes or subjects. This was also brought by the privatizations of the art
during the Renaissance Period, however most artworks remained religious in its focus and theme.
 
Michelangelo, "David." This sculpture is an example of how humanism was a dominant belief system
during the Renaissance. There is emphasis on the details of the body of the human being. During the
Renaissance Period, there was also a revival of Roman theatrical plays These plays were performed
during special Occasions at the courts of Italian princes. The plays were done in such a way that
showcased grand and lavish entertainment for the audience. Aside from the song and dance
numbers, they invested in elaborate stages and costumes for the actors. Eventually, this would lead
to Italy's opera, which have greatly influenced their tradition of popular theater.  
Mannerism Art
            Mannerism was a period in art history, which was a product of the Renaissance Period.
During the Renaissance, artists would observe nature and try their best to emulate it based on their
observations.
            As the Renaissance ended, artists started directly copying subjects from existing works of art.
            Most artworks during this period displayed distorted figures, two-dimensional spaces,
discordant hues and colors, and lack of defined focal point.
Here is a sample art work: “Perseus and Andromeda” 1611 made by Joachim Wtewael

Image online source: https://mymodernmet.com/what-is-mannerism/

Baroque and the Rococo Art

            The term "baroque" is derived from the Portuguese term barocco which is translated as
"irregularly shaped pearl." This is a suitable description that Rome was the birthplace of the Baroque
Period, which according to some historians was a response to Protestantism. This period roughly
spanned from 1600 to 1750. Although it was a period following the Renaissance, it can be said that a
lot of artists have developed styles and techniques different from their Renaissance predecessors.
Most artists used colorful palettes and ornamentation in their works. This was a time when Italy in
particular, strengthened not only their religion but also other aspects like politics and art. Expansion
was the central theme of this period, which became very much evident in the artworks produced
during this time. Motion and space were taken into consideration by artists like the use of dramatic
lighting and the concept of time.
Aside from art, music also flourished during the Baroque Period. This is because people believed that
music could serve as powerful tool to communicate messages that can evoke certain feelings among
its listeners. Baroque music was able to clearly distinguish loud from soft and solo from ensemble.
Since the birthplace of this period was in Rome, it did not come as a surprise that most composers
come from Italy. This include Vivaldi, Corelli, and Monteverdi. Eventually, the influence of Baroque
music spread outside Italy and reached other parts of Europe. Other well-known Baroque composers
include Germany's Bach and Handel. Since Baroque composers, through their works, tried to evoke
certain emotions from their audience, they began to make more complex musical compositions and
performances. However, it can be noted that initially, this kind of music was limited only to powerful
institutions like the Church and individuals like the patrons. Eventually, such performances would be
made accessible to the middle class and the masses.
       "The Assumption of the Virgin." A painting by Titian located at Venice, Italy. The Biblical event
in the painting shows how the Baroque Period reverted to having religious subjects in their works.
 

Neoclassicism Art
 There seems to be a debate among historians as to the beginnings of modern art. There are
accounts that would attribute for the emergence of this kind of art during the French Revolution in
1789. However, other historians claim that it was the year 1863 when there was an emergence of
modern painting exhibitions. Neoclassicism was a movement in Europe that transpired during the late
eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. It was the dominant art movement that time which
basically aimed to revive and rekindle the influences of Greek and Roman into art and architecture.
The ancient Greeks and Europeans had placed emphasis on human reason and keeping society in
order. These very principles were also the dominant principles during the Enlightenment Period.
Some historians would also say that this movement was a reaction to the artworks produced during
the Baroque Period. There was a call to veer away from such extravagance in terms of style and form
of the Baroque Period.

Antonio Canova, "Paolina Borghese as Venus Victrix"

Image online source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/edcnyc/50192311921

 Romanticism Art
       Romanticism, as an art movement, used the central themes of Neoclassicist artworks as a
springboard. Romanticists have highlighted heroic elements into their work. During the Age of
Revolutions, there has been a tremendous focus on patriotic and nationalistic movements. One of the
major revolutions in history would be the French Revolution. Such revolutionary movements became
the focal point of most Romantic works.
       The major and central themes of Romanticism movement include the emphasis on the goodness
of mankind. Most works also promoted justice, equality, and social order. Artists also emphasized
emotions and feelings of man, which was a deviation from the humanist principles of rationalism.
Theodore Gericault, "The Raft of Medusa"
Realism 
            Realism as a style of work focuses on the accuracy of details that depicts and somehow
mirrors reality. There is little room for imagination in this movement since emphasis is placed in
observable traits that can concretize through artworks. Realism was heavily influenced by Hellenistic
Greek culture since most artworks during that period placed emphasis on the human body.
            Realism as a modern movement in art veered away from traditional forms of art. In a way, it
revolutionized themes and techniques in paintings. In addition, this movement also expanded and
widened existing notions of what can be considered as art.
            Since artists worked within the context of revolutions and social change, artistic works began
to depict real-life events. Idealistic concepts and images were replaced by real manifestations of
society. There is a move to combine both art and life in artistic works since the modern world were
suitable for subjects of art. This movement also reexamined existing belief systems and traditions.
Gustave Courbet, "Burial at Ornans"
Impressionism Art
             The Impressionism movement started in France, which led to a break from the tradition in
European painting. Impressionism is a style of painting that emerged in the mid- to late 1800s.
Impressionist artists incorporated scientific principles to achieve a more distinct representation of
color. The distinctive characteristic of this style is that it allows the artist to emphasize the immediate
impression he has of a particular event or scene. The said impression is communicated by the artist
through his work and can be seen through the brushstrokes, distinction of colors, and the lights and
shadows used by the artist.
Berthe Morisot, by Manet (1869). Impressionist artists started moving art outdoors which aimed to
include the shifting light they wanted to capture in their works. This work by Morisot is one of the first
few "open air' paintings under the impressionism movement.
Post-Impressionism Art
            It is an art movement that emerged in France, which is a result of both the influence and
rejection of Impressionism. Most artists that belong to this movement started off as impressionists but
later on saw the inherent limitations and flaws of impressionism. This eventually led to the
development of individual style that gave emphasis to defining from with the use of broken colors and
short brush stroke. Some of the famous post-impressionism artists include Paul Cezanne, Georges
Seurat, Paul Gauguin, and Vincent van Gogh, among others. Most of the works of the said painters
became the framework of the contemporary techniques and trends during the twentieth century.
Vincent van Gogh, ‘The Starry Night' (1889)
Neo-Impressionism Art
            As an art movement, neo-impressionism is considered as a response to empirical realism of
impressionism. Most painters who subscribe to such movement rely on a systematic and scientific
techniques that have a predetermined visual effects not only on the art work itself but also how the
audience perceive the art. The leading figure in neo-impressionism was Georges Seurat who
recorded optical sensations on a more scientific manner. His color theories paved the way for the
technique called pointillism. This art technique basically utilizes discrete dots and dashes of pure
color. These elements are believed to blend with the viewer's perspective. Aside from Seurat, other
neo-impressionist artists include Henri-Edmond Cross, Maximilien Luce, and Camille Pissarro, among
others.
Maximilien Luce Painting in Neo-Impressionism style - the Seine River
Art Nouveau 
            Between 1890 and 1910, countries from Europe and the United States witnessed the
emergence and flourishing of a new art style. This ornamental style of art was a break from the
conservative historicism, which was the prevailing and dominant theme of most Western artworks.
This ornamental style uses long and organic lines that are concretely manifested in architecture,
jewelry and glass design, among others. In most works, the defining characteristic of Art Nouveau is
the asymmetrical line that usually is in the form of insect wings or flower stalks. The line is done in
such a graceful and elegant manner that somehow evokes a certain power to it.
Emile Galle, Vases and lamps, “Celebration of Spring” on 1846–1904
            His work was inspired by nature and literature. He would collect and study plants and bugs in
his free time for inspiration, pioneering experimental techniques in glass making that he later
patented. Many of his work had floral motifs and poems sealed within, written for the owner.

Fauvism
            This is a style of painting that emerged in France around the turn of the twentieth century.
What makes fauvists revolutionary is that they used pure and vibrant colors by applying straight from
the paint tubes directly to the canvas. This is done to produce a sense of explosion of colors in the
canvas. The fauves, just like the impressionists, painted directly from nature. The difference lies with
how the fauves have this strong and expressive reaction to how they portray their subjects. Most
fauvist works reject the conservative and traditional renderings of three-dimensional space. What
artists did was they introduced and promoted a picture space that is defined by the movement of
color.

Example: Boats at the port of Collioure by Andre Derain on1905

Details: In Boats in the Harbour, also known as Bateaux dans le port, Collioure, Andre Derain
 

amplifies the charm and vibrancy of the small fishing village, Collioure. His use of a bright color
palette and bold brushstrokes are the perfect example of the fauvist artists’ personal expression on
the then new genre.
       Technically, the painting is wild, with neat colors, as though used straight from the paint tube.
The inconsistent brushstrokes not only intensify the composition, but also cause distraction and
minimize traditionalism. On an emotional level, Boats in the Harbor evokes the soaring degree of
elation Andre Derain must have felt while creating it. The paintings atmosphere is joyful, yet serene,
not an easy feat for any artist.
       The broken brushstrokes on the water and in the sky bring these elements to life, and create a
depth that extends way beyond the shoreline, where a man is seen pensively overlooking the marina.
Boats in the Harbor takes the viewer on a journey to Collioure, where both Derain and Matisse  spent
time admiring the beautiful view.

Cubism
       Between 1907 and 1914, French artists Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque introduced a new
visual arts style called cubism. This style would later on have a huge influence on artists during the
twentieth century. Cubists highlighted the two- dimensional surface of the picture plane. Focusing on
a flat surface was a rejection of the dominant techniques like the use of perspective, foreshortening,
and modeling. In addition, one of the things that cubism rejected was the existing and prevailing
notion that art should imitate nature. Cubists emphasized that they are not in any way obliged to copy
texture, form, color, and space. They presented a new depiction of reality that may appear
fragmented objects for viewers.
Example: Pablo Picasso, “Three Musicians”, 1921
  Futurism
       It is an early twentieth century art movement that started in Italy, which highlighted the speed,
energy, dynamism, and power of machines. In addition, common themes for works in this movement
are restlessness and the fast-pace of modern life. Later on, the movement's influence branched out
not only in Europe but also in Russia. The greatest impact of futurism is evident in poetry and visual
arts.

Città Nuova (New City) by Antonio Sant'Elia 

       This image is part of Sant'Elia's design for a new city and this reflects the architect's ideas of
modernity. He expressed these in The Manifesto of Futurist Architecture in 1914, writing that "We
must invent and rebuild our Futurist city like an immense and tumultuous shipyard, active, mobile,
and everywhere dynamic, and the Futurist house like a gigantic machine". In this part of the design,
elevators can be seen ascending the façade of the building, and modern modes of transportation,
highways and trains, run alongside and into the complex. The building itself is multi-leveled and as
well as more traditional vertical lines it is composed of elliptical and diagonal lines, which Sant'Elia
wrote were "dynamic by their very nature".