History of the different types of art

Ancient Egyptian Art

Between 3100 BC and 30 BC, the ancient Egyptians were producing some seriously impressive statues and wall paintings including hieroglyphics which are still much admired today. We need only think of the Sphinx to see how much we still admire these ancient monoliths of ancient culture.

Roman Art

Roman architecture still stands in places like Bath where we can still see the original Roman Baths in all their former glory and in Rome where the Pantheon and Colosseum still stand as a testament to the skill of the ancient Roman artists. There are, however, many other impressive examples of art from this era. We need only look to the mosaics which survive in Pompeii to see the intricacy and attention to detail which was key in Roman art and there are still remaining rare examples of art paintings and friezes from this period of history which are preserved to this very day.

Hellenistic And Greek Art

Early Greek art represents a period of perfection and idealism. Between 850 and 31 BC, the Hellenistic period reflects this strive for perfection in its sculptures and architecture. We need only look at the Parthenon, an impressive temple to Athena which still stands in Athens today to see the attention to detail and the famous Greek columns which were created at this time. Greek art also encompassed beautifully formed statues which celebrated the male and female form in all its true realism.

The Baroque Period

During the period 1600 to 1750, the art world went through a movement known as The Baroque movement. This era was a very religious one, overlapping the 30 years war which took place between the Catholics and Protestants.

The culture of the day pervaded art of the time, and famous artists such as Caravaggio and Rembrandt who did their best work at this time were famous for the dramatic, moody and tense style of their paintings which came through in the subject matter and lighting techniques. Meanwhile, in the world of architecture art, amazingly ornate structures like the Palace of Versailles were designed and constructed.

The Neoclassical Age

During the period between 1750 and 1850, the Neoclassical era came into being. At this time, the Baroque period’s extremity was toned down, yet the Greco-Roman periods of art were also beautifully captured in all its aesthetic and graceful perfection.

At this time, the Age of Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution saw a greater interest in science as opposed to the religious themes which had so far pervaded the art world. As a result, Jean August Dominique Ingres and Jacques Louis David found their artistic style came to the fore.

Romanticism

From the end of the 18th century to the middle of the 19th century, Romanticism took off in a big way. While eras which had gone by had seen art embracing both the scientific and the religious, the Romanticism movement saw the emphasis being placed instead on the self.

The Enlightenment's sense of order was rejected in favor of this era's more chaotic way of approaching life. At this time, the French and American revolutions took place, and moody, dark works defined the artistic landscape. Artists like Gericault, Turner and Delacroix made their names at this time.

Post-impressionism

During a period of around 3 decades between 1885 and 1910, the post-impressionism period in art had its day. The logical follower to impressionism, the post-impressionist era still rejected the traditional rules of art and its drive for perfectionism, but at the same time, rejected the supposed limitations.

This new art style continued permitted a complete freedom of brush technique and style but, in a twist, applied this freedom to common scenes, with a move towards painting forms instead of only impressions. Rousseau, Van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec were three of the most famous Post-Impressionist painters of them all.

Expressionism And Fauvism

Fauvism and its relative Expressionism were primarily the product of war. Flourishing during the period of World War I and its immediate aftermath, these artistic styles were characterized by bold shapes, harsh colors and emotionally disturbing content. Edvard Munch's works like The Scream are classics of this era.

Futurism, Cubism, Constructivism and Supremativism

While Expressionism was in full flow during the early years of the 20th century, a second series of art forms were running parallel to it. Futurism, Cubism, Constructivism and Supremativism were a diverse collection of artistic styles which explored expressionistic style. Artists were no longer encouraged to capture realism in images of scenery or individual people.

Instead, abstract objects, landscapes and shapes were deconstructed and portrayed in unusual ways as a way of expressing the artist’s own emotions. This era saw a move away from traditional techniques and with artists like Picasso excelling at this time, art went through a very bold period.