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Art of Emerging Europe

Ancient Greece

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 the arts-painting, sculpture, and
architecture—one 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 this civilization,
man was at the center of society and how they trained 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. The Greeks were notably passionate about natural phenomenon and believed that
nature should be in perfect order. These principles, belief systems, and ideologies are at the core of
Greek art and architecture.

The development of Greek art can be divided into four periods: Geometric, Archaic, Classical,
and Hellenistic. The 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. The Archaic Period, on the other hand, placed
importance on human figures. This was primarily a result of Greece's trading activities with other
civilizations. The peak of Greek sculpture and architecture was during the Classical 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. One of the famous Hellenistic sculptures is the "Lacoon and His Sons." The sculpture depicts
Lacoon, a Trojan priest and his sons being strangled by serpents. Their position was a result of
Lacoon'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
Lacoon and his sons.
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"Lacoon 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 were 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

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
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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.

“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 Platus 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

As the term denotes, it is the period between the decline of the Roman Empire and the
Renaissance. It was a period that is characterized by ignorance and darkness.

Another dominant characteristic of the period was that the Church was the central figure and authority
of the period. Since the Church was the most important figure. the most important products of the
early Middle Ages would have to be copied of the Christian scriptures. The printing press came later
after the Middle Ages, so copies of the scriptures were done by hand. These copies were also done
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with illustrations and decorations which highlight the religious focus of the period. During this time,
great cathedrals were also built. These cathedrals can be categorized into two periods: Romanesque
(1050–1200), inspired by the old Roman Empire; and Gothic (1200– 1500), which had a more
northern flavor from the Goths—vulgar and barbarian.

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.
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Mannerism

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.

Baroque and the Rococo

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 wellknown
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.
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"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

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.
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Antonio Canova, "Paolina Borghese as Venus Victrix"

Romanticism

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.
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Théodore Géricault, "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.
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Gustave Courbet, "Burial at Ornans"

Impressionism

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, "The Harbor at Lorient" (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.
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Post-Impressionism

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.

Neo-Impressionism

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.

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.

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 threedimensional space. What
artists did was they introduced and promoted a picture space that is defined by the movement of color.
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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.

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.

Italian poet and editor Filippon Tommaso Marinetti coined the term "futurism" to reflect his
purpose of disregarding the traditional methods of the art in the past. He believes that art should
embrace and embody change, innovation, creativity, and originality.

Art Appreciation, 1st Ed.

Caslib, Jr., Garing, Casaul

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