Lesson 8:

Art of Emerging Europe

LESSON OUTCOME
By the end this session, the students should be
able to:
1. Identify the major periods in Western art
history;
2. Compare and contrast the artworks produced
during the different time periods and art
movements; and
3. Discuss the importance of art to the
development of Western culture.
 LESSON PROPER
Ancient Greece:
•The development of Greek art can be divided into
four periods: Geometric, Archaic, Classical, and
Hellenistic.
•The Geometric Period was when geometric
shapes and patterns have taken the spotlight in
most of the artworks.
 LESSON PROPER
Ancient Greece:
•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.
•The time of Alexander the Great was called the Hellenistic
Period. During this time, art was primarily focused on
showcasing emotions and depicting reality.
Ancient Rome:
•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.
Middle Ages:
•Since the Church was the most important
figure, the most important products of the
early Middle Ages would have to be copies
of the Christian scriptures.
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.
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
Baroque and 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.
Neoclassicism:
•Neoclassicism was a movement in Europe that
th
transpired during the late 18 and early 19 th

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.
Romanticism:
•Romanticism, as an art movement, used the central themes
of Neoclassicist artworks as a springboard. Romanticists have
highlighted heroic elements into their work.
Realism:
•Realism as a style of work focuses on the accuracy of details
that depicts and somehow mirrors reality.
•Realism as a modern movement in art veered away from
traditional forms of art.
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.
Post-Impressionism:
•It is an art movement that emerged in France, which is a result of
both the influence and rejection of Impressionism.
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 artwork itself but
also how the audience perceive the art.
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.
Fauvism:
•This is a style of painting that emerged in France around the turn of the 20th
century. What makes fauvists revolutionary is that they used pure and vibrant
colors by applying straight from the paint tubes directly to the canvas.
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 20th century. Cubists highlighted the
two- dimensional surface of the picture plane.
Futurism:
•It is an early 20th 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.
DISCUSSION POINTS
•In what ways are Greek and Roman art
works similar? Different?
•Why is mannerism art considered an
offshoot of Renaissance art?
•Why is Neoclassicism considered a
response or reaction to the Baroque
period?
.
PROCESSING QUESTIONS
How has art changed throughout history?
What do you think are the reasons why art
has evolved and changed throughout time?
LESSON SUMMARY
•Throughout history, Europe has seen
tremendous changes in its political
landscape and social makeup, and
witnessed transitions of different art
movements on different timeframes.
• The use of art as a medium of
communication of different cultural
elements originated from the Greek and
Roman civilizations.