Lesson 5

Historical Perspectives in Art

Name:
Section /Course: BSNEd
Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this lesson, you should have been able to:
1. Discuss how art was used by prehistoric people to depict everyday life;
2. Differentiate the techniques used during the three kingdoms of early Egypt;
3. Explain how art is linked with religion in early Egyptian civilizations, and;
4. Identify the major periods in Western art history.

Time Frame: One week

Introduction
Who do you suppose the first artist was? Did he or she know it was art that he or
she was making? If it was not called art back then, what did the early people call it?
What did they use it for? In this section, you will learn how the history of the arts is
closely linked to the growth and development of civilization

ACTIVITY: Let’s Get Started!

The image below is a classic example of ancient Egyptian art. Examine the
image before answering the questions that follow.
Fig. 8. Ancient Egyptian artwork

a. What do you think is being depicted in the artwork?

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b. What details in the artwork made you think so?

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c. What does this depiction say about the Egyptian civilization?

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ABSTRACTION: Let’s Explore!

The Stone Age

When people hear “early civilizations,” they usually think of stones. This should
not come as a surprise because civilization did start during the three particular periods
of the Stone Age: Paleolithic (late Stone Age), Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age), and
Neolothic (New Stone Age). And even as civilization was considerably young back then,
it did show promise in the arts, even if that was not what they called it back then. You
see, the Stone Age has witnessed a gradual shift from a nomadic lifestyle of early
humans to that of permanent settlements. They stopped going from place to place in
search of food and instead, settled in one specific place where they grew and cultivated
their own food. Proof of this “civilization” are permanent shelters (some even standing
until today) and tools they used for survival (killing animals for food, gardening
implements for their crops).

Paleolithic Art
As their settlement started to become more permanent, early men thought of
documenting their daily activities through what may already be considered as “art.” They
turned to the creation of paintings and sculptures that depict humans, animals, and their
natural habitat, thus, establishing possible linkages among art, religion, and life. This
paved the way for Paleolithic Art which primarily was brought about by climate change.
Colder climate prompted the early humans to look for shelters that would provide them
with warmth. Thus, caves became protective havens for them, leading the way for their
first attempts to create art. One of the earliest pieces of evidence of this attempt are the
cave paintings in Lascaux, France.
 Fig. 9. These paintings, found in a cave in Lascaux, France, are aptly called “Hall of Bulls.”

Archaeologists and art historians noted that these primitive paintings were done
with a certain level of crispness and life. These paintings evoked naturalism, evidenced
through the animals’ body and colors. These primitive cave paintings even employed a
technique that is used today: spray painting. Although back then, they used ground
pigments blown through reeds or hollowed-out bones. They even worked with
foreshortening (remember this word; we will discuss this in another chapter) and
contrasting of lights and shadows, creating the illusion of three-dimensional forms.
Naturally, historians had their own notions and beliefs about these. They figured
that as these works were discovered inside the deep recesses of the caves, they may
not necessarily be used as decorations. The painted caves may have been used as a
sanctuary or a safe haven for religious rituals. They surmised that there was a link
between what was drawn and what could happen, eventually reflecting some of the
early beliefs of humans, especially with life and fertility.
Speaking of fertility, archaeologists also uncovered a figurine they called the
“Venus of Willendorf” (Fig. 7) which was unearthed in Willendorf, Lower Austria.
 Fig. 10 The Venus of Willendorf

While there have been no specific cited purposes for this figurine (and other
similar figures of naked women), archaeologists believe that these figures of nude
women with exaggerated sexual features are related to the notion of “fertility and
childbirth.” This strengthens the belief that the Venus of Willendorf was created primarily
for religious purposes and not for art’s sake.

Mesolithic Art
This period developed when life for early humans has become more stable. They
learned to cultivate the lands and to domesticate animals. By 4000 BC, a significant
number of monumental and architectural structures were constructed. One of these is
the very popular Stonehenge in England.
 Fig. 11. The Stonehenge

Still, despite its magnificence and seeming permanence, it is still not clear who
made them and what purpose these rock monuments serve.

Neolithic Art
During the age that was eventually categorized in art history as Neolithic Art,
civilization could only be described to be more developed. Different elements of
civilization flourished in various parts of the world. What was very particular about this
growth is that civilization emerged and flourished in the river valleys: the Nile in Egypt,
Indus in India, Tigris and Euphrates in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq, Kuwait, Turkey,
and Syria), and the Huang Ho in China. It is therefore not surprising that one of the
functional art forms that emerged during that time was pottery.
 Look at the jars below. The one on the left is a Chinese Neolithic jar while the
one on the right is an Egyptian Neolithic jar. Although these are both from the same era,
notice the subtle differences in the placement of the jar’s “ears” or loops. The Chinese
jar has bigger loops but are situated at the lower half while the Egyptian jar has smaller
hoops located at the upper half. Any assumptions why this is so?

Figs. 12-13. Chinese Neolithic jar (left) and Egyptian Neolithic jar (right)

EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION
The indispensability and utility of the Nile River led to the belief that this river is to
be worshipped like a god. With this came the notion that art (or something that is
created to be beautiful) was something associated and ascribed with religion.
The Egyptian period, in art and history, is divided into three: Old Kingdom, Middle
Kingdom, and New Kingdom.

Old Kingdom
During the Old Kingdom era of Egyptian civilization, religion was primarily bound
to the afterlife, as evidenced by the construction of tombs. These tombs served to keep
the dead bodies of important people and as shelter for the next journey (afterlife). As
such, they were decorated with everyday objects what would reflect day-to-day activities
since they considered the afterlife to be a mere continuation of their mortal life.

Fig. 14. An Egyptian tomb

One of the most significant historical and artistic artifacts found from this period is
the Narmer’s Palette (Fig. 11). This palette has two functions. First, it depicts the
unification of Upper and Lower Egypt into the “Kingdom of Two Lands” which marked
the beginning of their civilization. Second, it serves as a ceremonial palette used in the
ritual of mixing and applying King Narmer’s eye makeup.
 Fig. 15. King Narmer’s Palette

Of course, no one discusses Egypt without discussing its most remarkable

historical, architectural, and engineering features: the pyramids.

Fig. 16. The Great Pyramids of Giza

 The pyramids were built around the period when Egypt was in its relative age of
prosperity and richness. Most construction began during the Old Kingdom but did not
reach its peak until the late third dynasty. The massiveness of the pyramids is reflective
of the high regard that the ancient Egyptians had for their Pharaohs.

Middle Kingdom
The Middle Kingdom in ancient Egypt was marked by a shift in the political
hierarchy with the emergence of powerful groups of landlords that threatened the
authority and rule of the pharaoh. Art took a back seat although art in this period had
some references from the Old Kingdom.
The Middle Kingdom also marked the beginning of the Bronze Age weapons.

New Kingdom
After the Middle Kingdom came to an end, there was another Kingdom that
emerged in Egypt, one more significant than the one before it: the New Kingdom.

During this period, art had references from the two earlier periods, but given the setback
in the Middle Kingdom, there hadn’t been much. What was noteworthy during the New
Kingdom was their treatment of tombs. From being a mere repository for dead bodies,
tombs started to have mortuary temples which served as a sanctuary for the dead and a
place of worship for the living.
On the downside, as Egypt had established itself as a more advanced and
powerful nation, their ego inflated, as evidenced by the construction of massive
sculptures dedicate to themselves as important people.

Post-New Kingdom
Perhaps learning from the mistakes of the past, the leaders of the time after the
New Kingdom—King Akhenaton and Queen Nefertiti who led the Amarna Revolution—
aimed to revolutionize both the arts and religion. As such, they ordered the creation and
construction of new monuments in honor of the god Aton. (Trivia: Akhenaton was
previously named Amenhotep but changed his name in reverence to the god Aton.)
 Fig. 17-18: King Akhenaton and Queen Nefertiti, the power couple of the post-New Kingdom

A peculiar characteristic of the art forms, particularly of sculptures, in this era was
the form of the sculpture itself. These sculptures had curving lines and are full-bodied.
They emphasized life-like facial features (elongated jaws, thick-lidded

eyes). The forms were also very naturalistic, highlighting on the features of its subjects,
mostly humans.
After the death of King Akhenaton, art returned to the rigid and conventional
styles used during the earlier Kingdoms. Nonetheless, one of the greatest discoveries of
the Egyptian civilization was discovered to have come from this period: the Tomb of
Tutankhamen (other spelling Tutankhamun).
King Tut ascended to the throne at the age of 9 and ruled Egypt until his death at
age 19. The full artistry surrounding his final resting place is another evidence of how
the Egyptians of this period combined religion and art. To illustrate, after he died, King
Tut was mummified according to Egyptian religious tradition, which held that royal
bodies should be preserved and provisioned for the afterlife. Embalmers removed his
organs and wrapped him in resin-soaked bandages, a 24-pound solid gold portrait mask
was placed over his head and shoulders and he was laid in a series of nested
containers—three golden coffins, a granite sarcophagus and four gilded wooden
shrines, the largest of which barely fit into the tomb’s burial chamber.

Fig. 19: The golden mask of Tutankhamen

GREEK CIVILIZATION
Art has always been an integral part in European history from the Greeks to the
Romans to the present times. Art is used to communicate ideologies and belief
systems. For this reason, the Greek and Roman civilizations are also known as the

“Classical World” mainly because both cultures aimed to embody the highest possible
standard of quality in all aspects of their societies. In art and architecture, both
civilizations tended to promote the possibility of having an objective and widely
acceptable standards for beauty. For this reason, the world always looks up to the
Classical World when it comes to art and architecture.
Political ideals became the framework for the democratic form of government
since politics has always been identified as their expertise. Aside from this, the ancient
Greeks valued poetry, drama, and philosophy. Because of their standards, painting,
sculpture, and architecture required one to have certain skill sets and body of
knowledge. This meant that one cannot just engage in the arts without any form of
training.
 There are two distinct styles seen on ancient Greek pottery: black images set
against a gold background or gold images set against a black background, as shown:

Fig. 20-21: Ancient Greek jars

Arguably, nothing speaks more of ancient Greek artistic elegance than the
Parthenon itself, built and dedicated to the goddess Athena whom the Greeks have
considered as their patron. This massive temple had begun construction when the
Athenian empire was at the peak of its power. It is also considered as the most
important surviving building of Classical Greece.
 Fig. 22: The Parthenon

Greek art is divided into four distinct periods: Geometric, Archaic, Classical, and
Hellenistic. Each of these periods are characterized by a particular feature.
The Geometric period began at the time when Greece was starting to get back
from what seemed to be their Dark Ages. During this period, their artwork, mostly
evident in their pottery, featured geometric patterns: lines and shapes.

Fig. 23: A trefoil-lipped cup featuring geometric patterns.

On the other hand, art in the Archaic period placed a huge importance on human
figures, primarily as a result of Greece’s trading activities with other civilizations. The
facial features of the sculptures during this period were not very
distinct, though, as the emphasis was more on the human form rather than on their
facial features.
 Fig. 24: Sculptures of female forms from the Archaic period.

The Classical period on Greek art could arguably be considered to have occurred
at the peak of Greek architecture and sculpture. At this time, the Greeks found
themselves rebuilding their temples and focusing on creating artworks. They had also
managed to give the face and body more detail, an improvement of the earlier works of
the Classical period.
 Fig. 25: Sculptures from the Classical Greek period

The fourth period in Greek art history is the Hellenistic period, the term being in
reference to the expansion of Greek influence and the dissemination of its ideas

following the death of Alexander the Great. While the ancient Greek artists had already
managed to provide greater detail into their works, particularly in sculpture, during the
Classical period, they further improved on their works and focused on including
emotions and movement into their work. Look at the second sculpture in the set below.
Notice how you can feel how tightly the woman is holding on to the jar. It is also notable
that during this period, sculptors turned to ordinary people doing ordinary activities as
their subjects, as opposed to focusing on gods and goddesses.
 Fig. 26-28: (L-R) Venus de Milo, drunken old woman clutching a jar, Barberini Faun

One of the most significant sculptures of this period is called “Laocoön and his
Sons” which depicted the time when Laocoön, a Trojan priest, and his sons were being
strangled by serpents as punishment from the gods. As Hellenistic art drew a lot from
movement and facial expressions, the sculpture depicted what Virgil had described
about the event: “…the two serpents, in attacking the three figures, produce the most
striking semblances of fear, suffering and death. The youth embraced in the coils is
fearful; the old man struck by the fangs is in torment; the child who has received the
poison, dies.”
 Fig. 29: Laocoön and his Sons on public display in The Vatican.

Also prominent during the Hellenistic period was theatre and drama as art forms.
It was the followers of Dionysus—the Greek god of fertility—who started Greek theatre.
People devoted to him would dance during ceremonies while giving their offerings to
him. Eventually, Dionysians devised a more structured form of drama involving dances
and choral songs depicting Greek mythologies. They also organized theatrical contests
held before large audiences.
Related to this, architecture further flourished because the demands of the
theatre, as far as its functions are concerned, are very different from the architecture
designed for temples. Hence, the early architects had to design a new structure suited
for the needs of theatrical presentations.
Amphitheaters built for this purpose generally consisted of a sloping seating area
to allow the viewers unobstructed views of what was happening on stage, an orchestra
(the flat area where the chorus stood, sang, and danced), and the skene which serves
as the backdrop of the stage.
Over the years, the architecture of theaters changed and improved, such as the
utilization of moving stages, but the general structure remained the same.
 Fig. 30: The Odeon of Herodes Atticus in the Acropolis in Greece is still being used until today.

ROMAN CIVILIZATION
Historically, the Roman Republic was established around 500 BC. This
civilization eventually transformed into one of Western Europe’s mightiest empires.
The Roman Empire interacted particularly with the Greeks. It is also important to note
that the Roman civilization came of age during the Hellenistic period. This implied that
the Roman civilization began when the bar had already been set high by the Greek
Hellenistic era.
As a result of their interactions, the Romans became fond of the Greeks and their
achievements in the arts. This influence became apparent in the fusion of Greek and
Roman cultures which can be seen in most Roman artworks. Some even argued that
the Romans merely copied Greek art. As such, the Romans produced artworks,
sculptures to be exact, that are often looking stern, harsh, and strong to set them apart
from the Greek style of sculpting.
 The Romans invoked the principles of realism in most of their works, highlighting
the features of human beings. In an effort to distinguish their works from those of the
Greeks, the faces of the Romans as depicted in their sculptures

featured even the imperfections of the person the work was modelled after: receding
hairline, pockmarks, fats, and all.
The Romans were also known to be master builders, earning their reputation of
grand monuments and architectural infrastructures, significantly, the Colosseum.
The Colosseum, which still stands until this very day, was planned and
constructed during the reign of Emperor Vespasian. Mainly used for entertainment
(public events and gladiator games), the structure is a concrete manifestation of Roman
builders’ craftsmanship which focused on logical organization of the entire edifice.

Fig. 31: The Colosseum, one of Rome’s most famous tourist destinations
The Middle Ages
A significant period in the study of the Roman Civilization was the Middle Ages, a
period between the decline of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance. This era was
characterized by ignorance and darkness.

During this period, the Church was the central figure and authority of the. All
other products, both artistic and religious, would have to be copies of the Christian
scriptures which were done by hand and with illustrations and decorations that highlight
the religious focus of the period. It is therefore not surprising that great cathedrals were
built during this time, categorized into two periods: Romanesque and Gothic.
The Romanesque period (1050-1200 AD) was inspired by the glory of the old
Roman Empire. Structures of this style is mainly characterized by semi-circular arches.
Other features of this style include massive quality, thick walls, sturdy piers, groin
vaults, large towers, and symmetrical plans. The Pisa Cathedral (Cattedrale di Pisa) in
Italy is one of the most popular structures of this style.

Fig. 31: The Cattedrale di Pisa in Italy with the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa in the background

On the other hand, structures of the Gothic Period (1200-1500 AD) had a more
Northern flavor from the Goths, mostly identified to be vulgar and barbaric, primary
because it was very different from the classy look of the Romanesque style, even if the
Gothic style did take pointers from its predecessor.
Gothic architecture has five key elements: large stained glass windows, pointed
arches, ribbed vaults, flying buttresses, and ornate decoration. The Milan Cathedral in
Italy is one of the most famous cathedrals featuring the Gothic style of architecture.

Fig. 32: The massive Milan Cathedral in Italy

No matter the style, modern Romans (or Italians, collectively) have made it a
point to try to conserve and preserve any of these ancient structures as they continue to
remind them of the great glory they once had with the Roman Empire.
For further under understanding, you may view the National Geographic channel
on YouTube and view the videos “Ancient Egypt 101,” “Ancient Greece 101,” and
“Ancient Rome 101.”
 APPLICATION
Ancient Egyptian art is considered as a very stylized form of communication. It
was used to tell stories. At the same time, it was believed that creating the art and
stories would cause the things that are shown (or drawn) to come true. Talk about
making a wish and turning them into reality!

For this activity, you will draw yourself as an ancient Egyptian, using the
guidelines listed below as ancient Egyptian drawings of people were drawn using some
fairly strict and consistent rules. Since it was used as some type of a wish-fulfilling
activity, you have to draw yourself showing what you would wish to happen to you. Use
the template provided (or download them from the UVE and Google Classroom) as your
guide.
Along with your drawing, write a short 100-word essay about what you have
drawn.

Rules of Egyptian Drawing:

1. The chest and eye of the person is drawn as if looking at the person from the front.
2. The hips, legs, and head of the person is drawn as if looking at them from the side.
3. Men were drawn with one foot ahead of the other. Women were drawn with their feet together.
4. They were usually shown in limited poses: standing, sitting, or kneeling.
5. The position of their arms was used to give more information about what the character was
doing.
6. The proportion (length of legs, size of body, size of head) was always the same. To do this, artists
would draw lines before beginning their art so that all the figures would be consistent.
 Template for Egyptian Man Template for Egyptian Woman

CLOSURE

Congratulations for finishing Lesson 4! By this time, you should have a clearer
understanding of how art in the early civilizations was created not for art itself but
primarily as a part of their daily life: from tools for their daily activities to drawings and
idols for religion to their reverence to the gods and to relive the glory days of their
civilization.
At this point, we now close Module One of our course. You have not been given
the foundation that set the stage for the study of art and the appreciation of it. You are
now better prepared to get into Module Two where you will learn the essentials of art,
the understanding of which will allow you to be more critical and discerning of the
elements and principles that make for beautiful art.

References
Caslib, B. N., & Garing, D. C. (2018). Art Appreciation. Manila: Rex Book Store.
Roldan, A. N., & Dellosa, C. P. (2019). A Course Module for Art Appreciation. Manila: Rex Book
Store.