Analysis of Artwork from Different Time Periods - Paper Example

Introduction

Art is an important part of being man and can be found in all aspects of our lives, regardless of the culture or times. It is thus the main reason as to why the study and critique of art build visual literacy skills, broadens perceptions about the role of art in daily life, and expands critical thinking skills that can inform individuals about their past, present, and future. Art can be objective or subjective based on personal preference toward aesthetics and form being some of the variables that determine one's judgment of art. The essay is going to focus on different artworks from various time periods and also sharing a common theme.

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Time Period: 10,000 BCE - 500 CE

The period is time during the Old Stone Age that covered a brief span of around 2000 years. The most famous and interesting artwork of this period consists of rock paintings, for example, what is referred to as 'Art of the Mesolithic Age' (https://www.thoughtco.com/art-of-the-mesolithic-182386). The artwork was designed mostly to be utilitarian in design rather than being attractive (Esaak, 2018). Paintings were done on natural rocks and the spots on which the paintings were done held some sacred, magical or religious significance. The painting that includes animals and human seemed to be engaged in either hunting or rituals whose purpose hasbeen lost to time. The art work signified a theme of life and society in the Old Stone Age. The significance of the theme is about the human-feel-good start-date for understanding history. Also, far from being realistic, the human figure in the painting can be considered to be highly stylized, rather like a glorified stick figure. The human figure looks more like pictograph than pictures, and I would think that they represent the primitive beginnings of writing. What I like most about the artwork and all that are classified in this period is their painting which is in repetitive patterns resulting in a nice sense of rhythm.

Period: 500 - 1800 CE

The period is also known as the Middle Age. It was a time that saw the advancement of the art in medieval times (Old Stone Age). Artwork of this particular period broke away from the Romanesque art style. For example, Gothic Artwas artwork that lied during this particular period. The work shows a period of more visual art. The art was a sign of the late medieval art that grew out of the Byzantine and Romanesque traditions with also a theme of life and society (Artyfactory, 2017). The theme of life and society in the gothic art main significance was creating a typological nature that reflected a belief that humans and evolved from the 10,000 BCE - 500 CE and that the events of the Old Testament pre-figured those of the new. The theme of the artwork signified more creativity with rigorous religious conventions. Works of this particular period such as the Gothic Art (c. 1150-1400) can be judged by the richness of the materials used to create it and the way they were applied. What I like most about the artwork is that together with other artworks of this period, they signified more visual artwork/images that signified a development in medieval art.

Period: 1800 - 2017 CE

Work of art during this particular period, creative expression whether in the form of painting, literature, or music turned to be above all means of serving religion and the social order. The painting The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit (1882), Boston Museum of Fine Arts, is a great painting of this period (https://www.mfa.org/collections/object/the-daughters-of-edward-darley-boit-31782). It is an image that shows the modern artists use of fresh ideas about the nature of materials and function of art (Museum of Fine Arts Boston, 2018). Therefore, the art work besides being more advanced and visual, it observed and maintained the theme of human life and society. The only difference during this period as compared to the Old Stone Age and the Middle Stone Ages is that the themes in the visual arts are used to convey ideas about the visual experience and content as a whole. Besides the works of art between the three time periods sharing some common theme, the artwork of 1800 - 2017 CE only shifted away from the traditional techniques and theme and moved toward more abstract pieces in a new art movement that fuses art with science and technology.

Reference

Artyfactory. (2017). Artyfactory. Retrieved May 14, 2018, from http://www.artyfactory.com/art_appreciation/timelines/western_art_timeline.htm

Museum of Fine Arts Boston. (2018). Artwork. Retrieved May 15, 2018, from https://www.mfa.org/collections/object/the-daughters-of-edward-darley-boit-31782

Esaak, S. (2017, March 8). Art of the Mesolithic Age (ca 10,000-8,000 BC). Retrieved May 15, 2018, from https://www.thoughtco.com/art-of-the-mesolithic-182386