Brief history of art spring 2011

A Brief History of A Brief History of Western ArtWestern Art

minimal knowledge to pass as an art snob!

Naeem ZafarBerkeley-Haas Business School

Spring 2011: Salon Meeting

What is Art?

Art is anything that re-Art is anything that re-arranges “furniture” in arranges “furniture” in

your mind!your mind!

Brief History of Western Art All rights reserved © Naeem Zafar 2

Our Focus: 5 Pieces of Knowledge

1. Major art movements2. What caused them3. Who were the movers & shakers of each era4. What art pieces you should be aware of5. Minimal vocabulary to pass as an art-snob


Big Picture I


1300 …1400 … 1500 … 1600 … 1700 …1750… 1800 … 1850 … 1890… 1900 …1920 … 1940 …

Medieval

Renaissance

Baroque

Rococo

Neoclassic Romanticism

Naturalism

Realism

Rise of modernityRise of modernity

Big Picture II


1800 …………… 1850……….. … 1890………….. 1900 ………..…1920 …………. 1940 ……………

Impressionism

symbolism

Post-Impressionism

Neo-Impressionism

Fauvism

Romanticism

Naturalism

Realism

Cubism

expressionism

Surrealism

Pop Art

Medieval: Italians Dominates


Two dimensional – religious themesNames: Cimabue, Giotto

Renaissance: 15th Century• Thru new discovery of intellectual thought

– Greek & roman influence– Art discovered liner perspective


BotticelliThe Birth of Venus

High Renaissance: 16th Century• Harmony & balance in construction, high technical

competence & rich artistic imagination• Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci• The Medici family’s influence


High Renaissance: pageantry & splendor

• Veronese• Bronzino


Introduction of tension, contorted bodies, more nudes in complex poses. Steep perspectives

High Renaissance in Spain

• Spain: El Greco• Still church

domination• Christ driving the

money changer from the temple


Baroque Period (17th Century)• Post reformation era; art patrons are rich trading families• Use of light, scenes from every day life, large compelling

figures• Artists: Caravaggio


Baroque Era: King Louis XIV • Large landscapes, nobles depicted, • Everyday life depicted


Flanders, Spanish Baroque (17th)

• Rubens Velazquez

Brief History of Western Art All rights reserved © Naeem Zafar 13Las Meninas

Dutch Masters• Rembrandt Vermeer


Rococo: 18th Century (Louis XV)

• Reaction against the pomp of Baroque

• Prominence of S & C curves

• Fantasy worlds


Francisco de Mura 1782

Neoclassicism (18th Century)• Precise outlines, not shadows but unbroken lines

new sense of order in brush work• Figures in gestures• Jacque Louis David


David (18th Century)


Pannini , Goya (18th Century)


19th Century: Romanticism Realism Naturalism

• Discovery of new colors (emerald green, cobalt blue & violet)• Collapsible tubes late 19th century freedom to paint anywhere• More landscape & seascape


ConstableCorot

1852: Impressionism• First to take easel outside & painted objects• Optical illusion discovered, camera was used• Edouard Manet


Masters: Claude Monet


Pissarro, Renoir


Paul Gauguin in Tahiti


Post Impressionism• Van Gogh, Seurat, Degas,

Cezanne• Experimenting with

application of paint• Revolt against the

impressionists


Van Gogh


Starry Night


Seurat


Degas


20th Century: Fauvism, Abstract• Representation of subconscious & metaphysical • Matisse


Cubism 1906-1920• See from different angel – not what you see what

you imagine to be there!


Expressionism 1910-1930

• Only thing matters is the expression of emotionKandinsky


Munch

Surrealism

• Dali


Abstract


Abstract Art: Pollack


Pop Art (Warhol)


Art Discovery• My favorite museums:

– The Wallace collection (London)– Thyssen collection & Prado Annex (Madrid)– City of Dijon – LA county museum, Getty Collection (So Cal)

• Popular choices– The Louvre, Musee D’Orsay (Paris)– Rijks Museum & Van Gogh’s (Amsterdam)– Tate, National Galley (London)– Metropolitan, Guggenheim, Frick, MOMA (NYC)

• http://www.artcyclopedia.com/museums.html


http://www.artcyclopedia.com/museums.html

Summary

• Art is powerful expression -- It moves you • Start the journey & surround yourself with art• Make a promise to see a few museums • Always get the audio guide


Design

Brief history of art spring 2011