Written By: Isaac Julian and Owen Weems, Staff Writers
IMPACT: The ever-changing practice that is art has had an amazing, dare I say profound, impact on human society, thought, and philosophy – so much so that the history of art deserves to be studied.
Art is so much more than just the paint on a canvas or the marble that has been shaped into a sculpture, it can offer one a mode of self-expression and self-reflection. To understand oneself, one must first come to understand their innermost feelings which art can offer through the use of color and imagery to convey an idea. More than that, art is a language in which artists can convey impactful social and emotional messages through the stunning and provocative pieces they craft. So to fully understand the importance of art throughout history and to appreciate its effect on human experiences, one must take the time to study art and all its intricacies: the minute details of the brushstrokes, the thought put into each color and shape represented, and the importance of the imagery and what the artist hoped to convey to those who have the chance to look upon the piece. It is a “means of understanding the world and our place in it” explains Art Historian Jason Weems who currently works in the Humanities Department of UCR. Now let’s take an overview of art throughout history.
Art has always functioned as a reflection of the cultural and societal values of its time, which rings true for the older eras in art history. In the past, paintings were held to a much higher objective standard than they are in the present day. The average person had no chance of becoming an artist, as it was simply too difficult to get the experience. Instead, many of the most famous artists were trained from childhood to become masters of the craft, similar to other industries at the time. This heightened skill attracted many wealthy patrons to commission these pieces, using artists to make lavish art to be displayed to the public. As we look through history, we see the result of this; World-renowned artists known exclusively for their remarkable works.
A core concept that defined art in its earlier years was its celebration of intellectual and cultural achievements, seen ushered in during the Renaissance. The demand was for pieces depicting the perfection and elegance of humanity, striving for realism in its finest form. All different mediums of art were embraced, such as sculpting intricate models of humans, designing and building great feats of architecture, and even orchestrating classics in music. Religious themes were present as always, but faith was displayed in a thoughtful and introspective light. Society had a certain strive for greatness during the Renaissance, and the work produced truly corroborates this. The true embodiment of this was Leonardo da Vinci, who achieved greatness in science, invention, and art during his life. Through creating some of the most classic art pieces in all of history, da Vinci aimed to create a universal language through his paintings that could be understood by all. This was achieved through breakthroughs like the golden ratio, and revolutionary standards connecting mathematics to art.
Art was meant to be clear, as he describes that “Perspective is nothing else than seeing a place or objects behind a plane of glass, quite transparent, on the surface of which the objects behind the glass are to be drawn.” Leonardo da Vinci and others pioneered this novel language known as art, making lifelike works digestible to the public.
The 17th and 18th centuries, the Romantic Era, were a time when emotion, imagination, and authenticity began to be embraced. It emphasized individualism while still incorporating familiar sights, like nature and other parts of the past, into each piece. Like almost all art, there was an exigence for the popularity of this style. Romanticism was a direct response to the quick industrialization of society, where people began relying less on the land and more on industry. The people had a longing for this feeling they had lost, and artists utilized this grief to craft a style filled with nostalgia and emotion. As romantic artist John Constable put it, “When [he sits] down to make a sketch from nature, the first thing [he tries] to do is to forget that [he has] ever seen a picture.” Realism was set aside, and artwork was created to fulfill the emotional needs of society at that moment.
Looking back at these legendary pieces, each one serves as a piece of history that will live on forever. A window into the past is opened up when looking at the intricate details put into this historic art. Contrary to more modern art, the values and culture of the time are reflected more clearly in these Renaissance and Romantic paintings, representing the public attitude more effectively. Despite the freedom of freelance artists of the current day, pouring thousands of dollars into the talents of a select few artists produced quality that has yet to be fully replicated. With the sacrifice of full individuality, art in history has unmatched quality and beauty that continues to be honored across the globe.
While art can be beautiful in the quantifiable aspects, the detail of the image which it intends to portray and the accuracy of said image, whether that be an object, landscape, or human being – it can also be beautiful through more abstract ideas of what aesthetics can be. Abstraction comes when the artists leave behind the traditional practices of art developed during the Renaissance of perfect representation of the visual world and begin to explore ideas, emotions, and higher-level concepts through art by creating masterpieces with colors, forms, and more broad ideas of what shape theory can be. With these abstract ideas of what the creation of art can be, even “a well-done advertisement” can become an art form.
With the development of industrial society and the complex new ideas and social theory that came with it, art was bound to change drastically. Art is a movement of expression and experimentation, so it only stays relevant by responding to the changes in both technological and societal fields. The development of the photograph made it even more complex surrounding the issue of what art had to become. How could humans contend with machines that took an exact image of a space in time? Art, therefore, became less about a perfect representation of the world, and more about a representation of a person’s psyche and beliefs at the time of the work creation. This led to the development of the artistic movements of Surrealism, Modern, Cubism, Pop Art, and so many more.
As Pablo Picasso delineated, “the purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.” So in this sense, art became an act of liberation, an act of freeing yourself from the shackles of burden, grief, or anything else that may be bogging you down through the medium of expression that lets us interpret the world in a way that has never been done before. Art has developed to fit the needs of the people that are living at the time. Cubism, an artistic style developed by Picasso, was a movement designed to look at the human figure in a different way, going beyond the linear perspectives and focused vision that so many were chained to. Art like this opens eyes to things people didn’t know they needed—a new way of looking at things. Art at its best represents the feelings of a generation, that now is the confusion and conflict that surround modern life.
Persistence of Memory, a Surrealist piece painted by famous artist Salvador Dali
Looking at the artistic style of Surrealism, we can see the abstract subject matter and connection to the human psyche enveloped within one form. Salvador Dali, a Spanish painter who proved to be one of the most influential artists in the field of Surrealism, worked with paint to decipher dreams and the questions about the state and manner in which we think of abstract ideas lie space and time. Dali believed that Surrealism was able to destroy the “shackles limiting our vision” and with them create new ideas of what art can be. Art opens many people’s eyes to the randomness of the universe through the emotions and provocative thoughts it forces a person to think. In that way, Jason Weems knows that “art is important in creating perspectives and thought” that challenge norms. It can be beautiful in its ability to amaze and leave you shocked. Everyone should take the time to interpret art as many art historians, including Mr. Weems, believe it to be an invaluable “tool of self-expression and self-evaluation.” Contemporary forms are no weaker than the masterpieces of old when it comes to creating feelings of utmost awe and contemplation. The study of art can help a person discover themselves.
By looking through the history of art, the evolution of both stylistic and societal values emerges. The grand, hyper-realistic approach taken in the past transitioned into the self-aware, surreal style of today. Even with this hyperbolic difference between the eras, each piece is still able to communicate the complexities of the human mind and the emotions that we all hold within us. As Jason Weems explains, the whole appeal of analyzing art in this way “seems to inspire within us a sense of human creativity…which is very powerful to people in understanding the world around us.” These works of art barely scratch the surface of all the genres and mediums of art that have been created and documented. If this kind of analysis interests you, Mr. Zlaket plans to dive deep into all eras and types of art in his upcoming AP Art History course, one that will be engaging to both history and art enthusiasts alike, so be sure to sign up for the upcoming year!