ROLE OF VISUAL ARTS IN EXPRESSING A FOREST

Contents:

1. Forest perceptions in timeline of Indian Art (25 nos- 5 remaining)

2. Capturing the elements of a forest: Fauna, Flora, Geological formations etc (20 nos - 2 remaining)

3. Mode of presentations and their impact on perceptions (15 nos needed - 7 there)

4. Eastern vs Western Art: The visual concept comparison (min 20 needed)

5. Comparison of historic and modern visual arts of forest to get an idea of how human perception has changed over

the period (10 nos)

The timeline of Indian Art

Prehistoric Art
Bhimbetka cave paintings, Indus Valley
civilization, Harappan civilization
Medieval Indian Art
Chola art of Deccan , Hoysala art of
Belur and Halebid, Temples of
Khajuraho, Konark and Kalinga art
Contemporary and modern Indian art
(post 19th century)
Artworks by Benod Bihari Dutta,
Abanindranath Tagore, Jamini Prakash
Gangooly, Raja Ravi Verma, Amrita Shergill

1st century AD 14th century AD

8000 BCE 10th century AD 19th century AD

15th to 19th century art

Early Indian Art
Moghul miniatures, Dakhani
Buddhist Art from Gandhara and
miniatures, Indo saracenic
Kushan School, Caves of Ajanta
art, Mysore and Tanjore
and Ellora , Chalukyan Art of
schools of art
Badami
Prehistoric - Cave painting from Bhimbetka

Title: Untitled

Artist: Unknown

Date: 8000 B.C.E.

Place: Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh

Medium: Natural colors on stone

Description: Bulls, buffaloes, deer,

antelopes, peacocks and tigers are just
some of the animals that are depicted.

Image source : https://www.thenationalnews.com/lifestyle/travel/india-s-rock-of-ages-exploring-the-earliest-evidence-of-human-life-at-bhimbetka-1.884407

Prehistoric - Seal from Mohenjo Daro

Title: Pashupati seal

Artist: Unknown

Date: 2500–2400 B.C.E.

Place: Mohenjodaro, Indus Valley Civilization

Medium: steatite, coated with alkali, and baked

Description: Incised on this small stone ,a large figure seated on

a dais surrounded by a horned buffalo, a rhinoceros, an
elephant, and a tiger.

Image source : https://smarthistory.org/indus-seal/

Early Indian Art (1st century AD to 10th century AD) - Buddhist painting at Sarnath

Title: Mahaparinirvana

Artist: Unknown

Date: 5th century AD

Place: Sarnath, Bihar

Medium: Natural
colors on wall

Description: The
moment that depicts
the Buddha leaving the
physical world.

Image source : https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/38123

 Medieval Indian Art (10th to 14th century AD)

Title: Untitled

Artist: Unknown

Style: Lepakshi painting

Date: 14th century A.D.

Place: Tamil Nadu

Medium: Natural colors

and chemicals on stone

Description: Kings visit to

show their devotion to Shiva

Image Source: https://www.focuscivil.online/mural-paintings-upsc/

 15th to 19th century - Mughal miniatures

Title: Shah Jahan Hunting

Blackbuck with Trained Cheetahs

Style: Mughal miniature painting

Date: 1710–15

Place: Western India, Rajasthan,

Udaipur

Medium: Ink, gold, and opaque

watercolor on paper

Description: Hunting scene of the

Mughal emperor depicted in a
landscape of undulating rocky
hillocks and light foliage.

Image source : https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/38048

Rajputana miniatures - Mewar School of Art

Title: Maharana Jagat Singh Hawks for Cranes

Artist: Shiva and Dayal

Date: dated 1744

Culture: Western India, Rajasthan, Udaipur

Medium: Opaque watercolor, ink and gold on paper

Description:

This spectacular panoramic vista of the Mewar landscape

depicts a royal hunting party in a series of consecutive
vignettes, creating a continuous narrative.

Image source :
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/38040?searchField=All&sortBy=Relevan
ce&ft=Western+India%2c+Rajasthan%2c+Jhilai&offset=0&rpp=20&pos=4
Rajputana miniatures - Mewar School of Art

Title: Maharana Sangram

Singh II Hunts Hares at
Naramangra

Artist: Unidentified artist

Date: 1720–30

Culture: Western India,

Rajasthan, Udaipur

Medium: Ink, opaque

watercolor, and gold on
paper

Description:

Here the maharana of

Mewar, Sangram Singh II
identified by a radiant
golden nimbus, races in
pursuit of his hunting dogs,
which close in for the kill.

Image source : https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/38045

Mughal miniature paintings

Title: The Royal Tiger & Elephant Hunt

Paint Material: Opaque watercolors

Base Material: Eco friendly Faux (synthetic)

Ivory

Age: Modern Handmade Art

Description: The medieval Indian scene

provides a vivid glimpse of a favorite past time
of the Mughal emperors, namely the Royal
Hunt.

Image Source : https://artandindia.ecrater.com/p/25304311/moghul-empire-historical-hunt-painting

Pahadi style miniature art (18th century)

Title: Untitled

Artist: Devi Das

Place: Kangra valley

Paint Material: Opaque watercolors

Date: 18th century

Description: Radha waiting for Krishna along the riverside

Image Source : https://artandindia.ecrater.com/p/25304311/moghul-empire-historical-hunt-painting

Pahadi style miniature art (18th century)

Title: Krishna Flirting with the Gopis, to

Radha's sorrow

Artist: Page from Bhanudatta's

'Rasamanjari' illustrating Rama's concerns
for Sita

Place: Punjab

Paint Material: Opaque watercolors

Date: 1760

Description: A forest scene depicting

mythological story of Krishna playing with
the Gopis

Image Source : https://nickyskye.blogspot.com/2012/07/himalayan-foothills-17th-and-18th.html

Contemporary and Modern Indian Art (post 19th century)

Title: Oleograph painting of

Shakuntala Patralekhan

Artist: Raja Ravi Verma

Style: uniting Hindu mythological

subject matter with European
realist historicist painting style

Date: 1930

Place: Malavli, Lonavala,

Maharashtra

Medium: Oil on canvas

Description: Shakuntala daydreams

as she writes a love letter to her
husband Dushyanta

Image Source : https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/shakuntala-patralekhana-raja-ravi-varma/MQH9upgNPcKdNg

 Contemporary and Modern Indian Art (post 19th century)

Title: Rama in the forest with Sita

and Lakshman

Artist: Raja Ravi Verma

Style: uniting Hindu mythological

subject matter with European
realist historicist painting style

Date: 1920

Place: India

Medium: Oil on canvas

Description: The lord Rama

portrayed as exile in the forest,
accompanied by his wife Sita and
brother Lakshmana

Image source : https://www.tallengestore.com/products/rama-in-the-forest-with-sita-and-lakshman-oleograph-print-raja-ravi-varma-press-indian-painting-canvas-prints

 Contemporary and Modern Indian Art (post 19th century)

Title: Spring in the Himalayas

Artist: Jamini Prakash Gangooly

Style: Realist

Date: 1876-1953

Place: India

Medium: Oil on canvas

Description: A sunset scene with

the snow-clad peaks in the
backdrop

Image source : http://www.artnet.com/artists/jamini-prakash-gangooly/spring-in-the-himalaya-lxeCMZJgD6iAtvhnDeYy2A2

 Contemporary and Modern Indian Art (post 19th century)

Title: The Misty Forest

Artist: Mahendra Shewale

Date: 2016

Place: India

Medium: Watercolor on
handmade paper

Description: A dense misty forest

covered with huge trees and
darkness

Image source : https://www.gallerist.in/nature-paintings/the-misty-forest

 Contemporary
● and Modern
Contemporary Indian
and ArtIndian
Modern (post Art
19th century)
(post 19th century)

Title: Into the woods

Artist: Nirmal Pathare

Style:

Date:

Place:

Medium: Oil on canvas

Description: Painting emotions and

exploration of light

Image source :
 Contemporary
● and Modern
Contemporary Indian
and ArtIndian
Modern (post Art
19th century)
(post 19th century)

Title: Mountain scene at Kurseong

Artist: Rabindranath Tagore

Date: 1920

Place: India

Medium: Watercolor painting on

postcard

Description: This landscape depicts

a view from the hotel room of
Kurseong. There are hills in the
foreground , isolated tree in the
middle ground and mountains and
clouds at a distance.

Image source : https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O82363/mountain-scene-at-kurseong-painting-tagore-abanindranath/

 Contemporary and Modern Indian Art (post 19th century)

Title: Mountain Landscape

Artist: Rabindranath Tagore

Date: 10th october 1924

Place: Kurseong

Medium: Water colour painting on

postcard

Description: The landscape depicts

a view of Kurseong . There are
rocks and trees painted in grey,
green and brown tones.

Image source: https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O82346/painting-tagore-abanindranath/

 ● Contemporary and Modern Indian Art (post 19th century)

Title: At Zero point

Artist: Manju Panchal

Style:

Date: 15 December 2017

Place: Yume Samdong, North Sikkim

Medium: Charcoal on Cartridge

paper
Description: It is a early morning
scene of Zero point offering stunning
views of snow clad mountains and
soaring coniferous trees.

Image source : https://arti-artindia.blogspot.com/2017/12/step-by-step-charcoal-drawing-of.html

 Contemporary and Modern Indian Art (post 19th century)

Title: A morning at end point,

Manipal

Artist: Manju Panchal

Style:

Date: 19 November 2016

Place: Manipal

Medium: Charcoal on Scholar

drawing paper

Description: The distant land slowly

faded away and merged with the
Arabian sea. The wild growth in the
proximity and the intertwining
blades of grasses and branches all
around made the foreground very
dramatic and in all I loved the
composition.

Image source : https://charcoalspastelsandmore.blogspot.com/2016/11/a-charcoal-sketching-of-early-morning.html

Contemporary and Modern Indian Art (post 19th century)

Title:The Dark Hedge

Artist: Nicole Adams

Style:

Date: 27 November 2020

Place: Ireland

Medium: Painting watercolour

Description: Take a journey through

the dark hedges of Ireland

Image source : https://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-dark-hedge-nicole-adams.html

Capturing the elements of a forest
Image source : https://www.hockney.com/works/paintings/00s
Image source : https://www.hockney.com/works/drawings/2000s
Image source : https://www.comuseum.com/painting/masters/guo-xi/
Image source : https://www.comuseum.com/painting/masters/guo-xi/early-spring/
Image source : https://www.martin-johnson-heade.org/The-Great-Florida-Sunset.html
Image source : https://www.martin-johnson-heade.org/The-Great-Florida-Marsh.html
Image source : http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/452111
1525, Tabriz, Iran
The feast of Sada
Sultan Mohammed
Medium: Ink, watercolour and gold on paper

The witty yet benevolent depictions of people and animals characterize the liveliest of Sultan
Muhammad’s creations. Also typical of his style is the oval composition with mountains rising into
Image source: http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/452111
Capturing the elements of a forest
the margins of the page.
1515-1522, Tabriz, Iran
Rostam sleeping while Rakhsh fights a lion
Sultan Mohammed
Medium: Ink, watercolour and gold on paper

Extensive mountains can be seen as well as many trees dotting the foreground and located in between the mountains with mist rising out from among them all.
Image source: http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/452111

Capturing the elements of a forest

1682-88, China
Landscapes
Wang Hui
Medium: Ink on paper

Extensive mountains can be seen as well as many trees dotting the foreground and located in between the mountains with mist rising out from among them all.
Image source: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/65620

Capturing the elements of a forest

1679-89, China
The wintry mountains
Gong Xian
Medium: Hanging scroll; ink on paper

Gong Xian, considered the greatest of the seventeenth-century Nanjing painters, built up his high-contrast images through repetitive layering of ink. Here, he evokes
a wintry scene in a mountain village.
Image source: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/49132

Capturing the elements of a forest

1684, China
View Across Streams And Mountains
Wang Hui
Medium: Ink on paper

Extensive mountains can be seen as well as many trees dotting the foreground and located in between the mountains with mist rising out from
among them all.

Image source: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/10497

Capturing the elements of a forest

1836, Northampton, Massachusetts
View From Mount Holyoke, after a thunderstorm
Thomas Cole
Medium: Oil on canvas

It depicts the Connecticut River valley with trees and vegetation in the foreground, a hilly terrain in the background, and gray
overcast skies that had still not cleared from the effects of a raging thunderstorm.
Image source: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/10497

Capturing the elements of a forest

1889
Morning in a pine forest
Ivan Shishkin
Medium: Oil on canvas

Unlike the impressionist works that have been considered hitherto, this is a realist artwork, showing the trees, their leaves, and the surrounding foliage in detail.
Although the sun is not visible, the reflection of its light can be clearly seen at the top of the painting while a hazy fog is clearly visible below the canopy of trees.
Image source: https://arthive.com/ivanshishkin/works/267053~Morning_in_a_pine_forest

Capturing the elements of a forest

1891
Surprised!
Henri Rosseau
Medium: Oil on canvas

Tiger lurking in the undergrowth and patiently waiting to pounce on the prey
Image source : https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/henri-rousseau-surprised

Capturing the elements of a forest

1902, Austria
The Birch Wood 
Gustav Klimt
Medium: Oil on canvas

Rather than dwell on the mysterious, dark nature of the forest, Klimt has chosen an apparently autumnal scene, where the colours of the leaves
naturally tend towards the golden tones he favoured. The tiny dabs of paint achieve a shimmering effect of light, far from the reality of dank and
gloom, while the patterning of the trunks across the width of the canvas hints at a musical rhythm.
Image source: https://www.gustav-klimt.com/Birch-Forest.jsp

Capturing the elements of a forest

Second half of 19th century
Autumn grasses in moonlight
Shibata Zeshin
Medium: Two-panel folding screen; ink, lacquer, silver, and silver leaf on paper

In Japan, gazing at the moon and listening to the sounds of insects have long been tranquil ways to spend an autumn evening.

Image source: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/45080

Capturing the elements of a forest

1957
Patna Rajgir Landscape
Benode Behari Mukherjee
Medium: Tempera on paper

In Japan, gazing at the moon and listening to the sounds of insects have long been tranquil ways to spend an autumn evening.
Image source: https://www.vadehraart.com/between-sight-and-insight-glimpses-of-benode-behari-mukherjee-benode-behari-mukherjee-2

Capturing the elements of a forest

1957
Rocky mountain with trees
Benode Behari Mukherjee
Medium: Watercolour and
ink on paper

In Japan, gazing at the moon and listening to the sounds of insects have long been tranquil ways to spend an autumn evening.

Image source: https://www.vadehraart.com/between-sight-and-insight-glimpses-of-benode-behari-mukherjee-benode-behari-mukherjee-2

Capturing the elements of a forest

2002
The valley
David Hockney
Medium: Watercolour

In Japan, gazing at the moon and listening to the sounds of insects have long been tranquil ways to spend an autumn evening.
Image source: https://www.thedavidhockneyfoundation.org/artwork/2844

Capturing the elements of a forest

Capturing the seasons

The Forest in Autumn

–Gustave Courbet
-Montmorency Forest, along the Oise River,
near Paris, France. 1866
-oil on canvas

A couple things that make this painting so well-known are its size (approximately 2
meters by 3 meters) and the fact that it was the first landscape to be painted with thick
patches of paint.
Capturing the seasons

Autumn
Frederic Edwin Church
19th century , American Artist

Frederic Edwin Church, a notable landscape painter of the 19th century, was born in 1826. He was
one of the first American artists to specialize in painting the American landscape.
 Capturing the seasons

Four Trees
Egon Schiele, Expressionist artists
1917 Austria ,
Oil on canvas

Schiele’s Four Trees is a painting that is both beautiful and haunting. With its picturesque natural
landscape and bright colors, it seems like a perfect landscape for
many people to enjoy. However, there are darker undertones in this painting that show how
problematic nature can be for humans.

It depicts four trees and the way they tower over the landscape while simultaneously crowding
each other. It shows how nature can be both breathtaking as well as
Image Source :www.theviennasecession.com suffocating – something that Schiele was highly critical of in his later paintings.
Capturing the season

The Hunters In The Snow (1565)

Pieter Bruegel The Elder

Just as the name depicts, hunters in the snow is a landscape oil painting done on wood that captures a scene of
three hunters returning home after a hunt while it was snowy. The painting is also referred to as The Return of the
Hunters. It portends a melancholic aura as the hunting expenditure was obviously was obviously futile (the hunters
came back only with a fox). Even the dogs seem unhappy as they are depicted in slouching poses. This work is quite
popular as it has been widely used in various contemporary movies. It is also part of a collection of five (still
existing) landscape paintings that feature various seasons of the year.
Capturing the season

Title: Landscape of the Four Seasons (Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers)

Artist: Sōami (Japanese, died 1525)

Period: Muromachi period (1392–1573)

Date: early 16th century

Image source : https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/42344

Modes of presentation and their perception
Mode of presentations and their impact on perceptions

Title: Unknown

Artist: Mark Rothko

Style: Fiction and literary genre

Year: 20th century

Place: Unknown

Mode of representation: Magic realism -

magic realism paints a realistic view of

the modern world while also adding
magical elements, often dealing with
the blurring of the lines between fantasy
and reality

Image source : https://artandcrafter.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Magic-realism-1.jpg

Mode of presentations and their impact on perceptions

Title: A Hut in the Woods

Artist: Ivan Ivanovich Shiskin

Style: Realist

Year: 1800s

Place: Unknown

Mode of representation: Natural realism

Image source : https://www.oceansbridge.com/shop/artists/s/shi-sil/shishkin-ivan/a-hut-in-the-woods

Mode of presentations and their impact on perceptions

Title: The night in the forest

Artist: Adolf menzel

Year: 20th century

Place: Unknown

Mode of representation: Realism

Image source : https://i.pinimg.com/originals/d8/22/f8/d822f8086131b53e58acd5fb895995f3.jpg

Mode of presentations and their impact on perceptions

Title: Sunny day in the forest

Artist: Karlis Miesnieks

Year: 1962

Place: Vidzeme

Mode of representation: Realism

Image source : https://www2.llu.lv/research_conf/proceedings2019_vol_1/docs/LatviaResRuralDev_25th_2019_vol1-82-88.pdf

Mode of presentations and their impact on perceptions

Title: Autumn

Artist: Rudolf Pinnis

Year: 20th century

Place: Latvia, Europe

Mode of representation: Fauvism

Image source : https://www2.llu.lv/research_conf/proceedings2019_vol_1/docs/LatviaResRuralDev_25th_2019_vol1-82-88.pdf

Mode of presentations and their impact on perceptions

Title: Autumn

Artist: Jazeps Pigoznis

Year: 1968

Place: Latgale, Latvia

Mode of representation: Fauvism

Image source : https://www2.llu.lv/research_conf/proceedings2019_vol_1/docs/LatviaResRuralDev_25th_2019_vol1-82-88.pdf

Mode of presentations and their impact on perceptions

Title: Unknown

Artist: Hirō Isono

Year: 1945

Place: Japan

Mode of representation: Illustration

Image source : https://i.pinimg.com/564x/36/8d/44/368d44ea8fb8a87bbb541675534767e4.jpg

Mode of presentations and their impact on perceptions

Title: Indian forest

Artist: Sayyad Haider raza

Year: Unknown

Place: Japan

Mode of representation: Impressionism

Image source : https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0969/9128/products/indforest_3414f639-5503-44fc-9e89-0a7b088133af.jpg?v=1498725913

Mode of presentations and their impact on perceptions

Title: Arrival of spring

Artist: David hockney

Year: 2020

Place: London

Mode of representation: Impressionism

Image source : https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0969/9128/products/indforest_3414f639-5503-44fc-9e89-0a7b088133af.jpg?v=1498725913

Mode of presentations and their impact on perceptions

Title: Landscape; Birbhum Landscape , ca.

Artist: Benode Behari Mukherjee

Year: 1936–1946

Place: Unknown

Mode of representation: Impressionism

Image source : hhttp://www.artnet.com/artists/benode-behari-mukherjee/landscape-birbhum-landscape-Fa0VAPanzliH0zz-eRjsVA2

Mode of presentations and their impact on perceptions

Title: Khoai in Santiniketan

Artist: Binode Behari Mukherjee

Year: Unknown

Place:Kolkata

Mode of representation: Impressionism

Image source : http://luckycompiler.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/khoai-benode-behari-mukherjee.jpg

Mode of presentations and their impact on perceptions

Title: Natures Labyrinth

Artist: Paramjit Singh

Style: F

Year: 20th century

Place: Unknown

Mode of representation: Magic realism -

magic realism paints a realistic view of

the modern world while also adding
magical elements, often dealing with
the blurring of the lines between fantasy
and reality

Image source : https://www.artintaglio.in/ViewProdDetails.jsp?cateId=13&ProdId=2154

Mode of presentations and their impact on perceptions

Title: Unknown

Artist: Wolf Kohn

Style:

Year: 20th century

Place: Unknown

Mode of representation: Magic realism -

magic realism paints a realistic view of

the modern world while also adding
magical elements, often dealing with
the blurring of the lines between fantasy
and reality

Image source : https://i.pinimg.com/564x/40/c6/28/40c628a3621de65548506dd46d0690c8.jpg

Eastern vs Western Art: The visual concept comparison
Eastern Art

Title: Travelers Among Mountains and Streams

Artist: Fan Kuan

Time Period : Northern Song Dynasty

Medium : Ink and slight color on Silk

Painting is made using different techniques which conveys unique sense of spirituality.Treat
landscape element as a sacred elements.Painting represent the spirituality of mountain
which embodies different religious feelings.

Image source : https://depts.washington.edu/chinaciv/painting/tptgnsla.htm

 Prehistoric nature
representation

Han Dynasty and

Mystical Landscape

Six Dynasties and

Eastern Art Landscape of Retreat

Tang Dynasty and

Landscape of Solidity

Northern Song and

Landscape of
Spirituality
Eastern Art - Prehistoric nature representation

● Nature is possessed by qi(universal cosmic force, unceasingly operating across time and space)
● Nature treated as a sacred elements which is based on spiritual view of world
● Landscape representation in terms of symbols such as clouds, water, schematic mountains on decorative motifs
● Nature represented as a Confucianism which is proposed by Confucius (551-479 BCE) which depicts hierarchical social order
and also includes sacrifices to heaven
● Another important religion includes notion of dao that creates universe and keep it operating. It first proposed by Laozi (c.
571-471)
● This both religion addresses different issues which shows dynamic balance to achieve a universal harmony which later
represented in art of landscape paintings.
Eastern Art - Prehistoric nature representation
Wine Vessel (Hu),

Time Period: Western Zhou Dynasty, late 9 th to early 8 th century BCE. Bronze.

Material: Bronze

● Appeared during Bronze age

● Abstract patterns of schematic lines which forms cloud like forms
● Basic graphical representation with different size and positions which
includes lines that twists and coil and makes entire composition
● Landscape patterns has no realistic and representational association.

Image source : https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/44515

Eastern Art - Han Dynasty and Mystical Landscape

● Art produced in this time period shows presence of Confucian social hierarchy and ethical virtues.
● Landscape depiction in terms of decorative patterns on vases, stone carvings and ritualistic objects that shows influences from
the mystical beliefs of Daoist practitioners
● Representation of landscape become less abstract
● Patterns and shapes has more realistic correlation
● Unlike western art , eastern art has representation of alphabetical latin languages with paintings which shows strong connection
between painting and writing.
Eastern Art - Han Dynasty and Mystical Landscape
Painted Vase with Dragon and Phoenix in Relief,

Time Period: Western Han Dynasty

● Embossed rings that divides vase into

three registers
● Top register - fire like clouds transcending
to heaven
● Bottom register - branches of plants with
flowers and leaves; clouds and plants
● Middle register - Clouds and plants meet
as if heaven and earth meet

Image source : https://www.dpm.org.cn/collection/ceramic/227442.html

Eastern Art - Han Dynasty and Mystical Landscape
Boshan Xianglu (Fairy Mountain Incense Burner)

Time Period: Western Han Dynasty, dated 113 BC

Material: Bronze inlaid with gold

● Dragons crouch on the foot of burner turning head upwards towards wide
open burning plate.
● Tall fairy mountain rise on the cloud like shapes which depicts waves of
eastern sea.
● Hunter chase animal among scattered trees within mysterious
mountainscape.
● Visually it describe the concept of ‘Mystical mountains’ of Han Dynasty
which is prominently seen in the art works of this time period.
● It also manifest the chinese character for mountain ‘山’ in the design which
ensures that mountains always appear in groups and central mountain is
always taller and most important.

Image source : https://www.magiminiland.org/BigPicture/Boshanlu.html

Eastern Art - Six Dynasties and Landscape of Retreat
 Classical Antiquity: Naturalistic Landscape

Western Art The Middle Ages: Spiritual Landscape

Franciscan Theology and the Renaissance: Spirituality and

Naturalism Combined
The Landscape Tradition of the West

Western landscape tradition had varied techniques and drastically different aims to represent nature and by the early phase of Renaissance, the painters
were both capable of depicting landscape in a naturalistic manner as well as using landscape to evoke spiritual connotations.

Classical Antiquity: Naturalistic Landscape and Creation of Vocabulary

Classical Greek art - the artform is more focused on

anthropocentric values and less importance was given to
landscape. It is difficult to trace the role of landscape depiction in
classical Greece.

Painter: Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres

Medium: Oil on canvas
Period: 1780 – 1867

Image source : https://wallpaperaccess.com/greek-art

 Roman period

Nilotic landscape- the river runs through the composition of

mountains, trees, cities while ships float on the water. Detailed
portrayals of human figures and numerous kinds of animals
dwell on the riverbanks.

● The mosaic shows the Roman fascination toward the

land of Egypt, the topographical approach to landscape
does not have any emphasis on the meaning or
spirituality of nature; it rather associates nature with
territory.

City of Palestrina
Medium: Floor mosaic
Period: Hellenistic Period floor mosaic that dates
approximately to second century B.C.

Photographer : Yann Forget

Image source : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mosa%C3%AFque_nilotique,_Praeneste,_Italie.jpgt
 The Middle Ages
The landscape conventions of the Romans declined gradually during the Middle Ages.
Landscape during the Middle Ages, preserved the landscape vocabulary of Roman Antiquity, which served as the foundation for Renaissance landscape .

It is the time when art is gradually moving-away from classical landscape

or can say it is the transitional period.

The Fall of Jericho

Medium: Mosaic
Period: Rome. c. 440 AD

Image source : https://www.christianiconography.info/staMariaMaggiore/wallsJericho.html

 Title: Forest Interio

Artist:van gogh

Year: 1890

Mode of representation: post Impressionism

Courtesy of www.VincentVanGogh.org
 The Bodmer Oak, Fontainebleau Forest
1865
Claude Monet, French painter

Image source:https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/437131
Comparison of historic and modern art: Changing human perceptions
Image source :
http://www.artnet.com/artists/maurice-de-vlaminck/autumn-landscape-qWkLZs7Y1w-jfkYHv8_WXw2 Image source : https://www.behance.net/gallery/31554413/Leaf-fall

Autumn landscape Leaf fall

Maurice de Vlamnick Vitali Mash
1800s Year: 2015
Oil on canvas Oil on canvas
Autumn landscape
Maurice de Vlamnick
1800s
Oil on canvas