Society Influence in Art throughout History - Research Paper Example

Society Influence in Art throughout History The history of mankind can be traced through the various periods of art. Throughout history, man has always attempted to demonstrate and express their feelings of love, life, religion and other social concerns through art. Art is a time capsule where artists of various periods showcase the society at their time in their perspectives. The social concerns and changes as time progresses is directly proportional to the art history, as seen through the various periods and trends in art. Art mirrors society during various periods of art. The effect of society and related concerns are reflected in the arts in every art period. Every man is an artist. Every individual has a way to voice out what is going on inside of him and loose it out in ways that would make an impact to whoever perceives. Art as an expression reflects what is happening in a certain society and culture. If art is a work output, then it must come from inside of the artist. The freedom of every individual lets him explore the vastness of his creativity exploding into varied concepts of supreme work of art and achievements. Historically, art has evolved through time and culture. Since the evolution of human history, art is already present. Early artworks were seen on the caves and rocks. They were aesthetically basic, devoid of colors, no definite forms and lacking in medium. Regardless of their simplicity, they are renowned important due to the message and content that they carry. What they have done is considered supreme and historically significant. Their art is their way of expression of what they perceive in their nature. Due to their simple cave wall caricatures and sketches, man’s civilization was traced. The message of an artwork reveals the environment at certain point in the history. There is a dynamic relationship of the artist with the environment, whether internal or external. With all his intellect, emotions, and religious beliefs, he freely cast out what he infers from his system. There are various factors that affect the artist’s works such as geographical, historical, religion, politics, and other day to day happenings can make artists resolved into expressions painted in canvasses to portray soundless words. This symbiotic human cycle produces a total artwork that is directed into shaping the world creating history and directing the course of the future. Art has been evident since the early period of Paleolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic period in 30,000 BC to 2,000 BC. Man has expressed what they perceived from nature through their simple and basic sketches on cave walls, the carve works on stones, and other products of their agriculture such as weave cloths and pottery. Through this works, it revealed how they survived and lived during those times. Artworks during this time were mostly influenced by the society’s nature and environment, where people sketches animals, sun, moon and others in their arts. Famous artworks include Lascaux Cave Paintings, and The Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England (Seth). Religion and societal belief to Gods and Goddesses are the greatest influential factors during the Classical Period in 500BC to 500AD. The mode of art is highly diversified at this time where sculpture and architecture flourished. Medieval period is also greatly influenced by religion, specifically the Catholic Church that made an impact to the society. Most of the artworks are focused on the Christian religious themes. Stories from the bible became famous subjects in the paintings. Catholic churches also had these arts painted along their walls and ceilings. Paintings of Andrew Duccion di Buonins “The Calling of the Apostles Peter and Andrew”, and “Christ on the Mount of Olives Master of Trebon Altarpiece” are artworks in this period that reflects the effect of religion during this period (Seth). The Renaissance period is greatly influenced by the major changes in Europe. The paintings at this time were more focused on man. Realism flourished at this period where artists are challenged with the perfect figures and symmetry of the human form. It is during this time where pronounced art virtuosos became famous. This includes Michelangelo and the famous Leonardo da Vincci. The famous art work of Michelangelo “The Creation of Adam” and sculpture “David” magnifies the symmetry of human form as the vital subjects during this period. Botecelli’s “Primavera” is considered as more than a representation of human nude. The measured elegance, unemotional facades and restrained movements speaks of the ideal and virtuous wife material as a standard during this period (Munstenberg). Following the Renaissance period is the Baroque and Rococo. At this time, social concerns are focused on the competition between Protestants and Catholics. Religion is still one of the greatest factors influencing their art. Education, trade and commercialism also flourished at this time where artists developed higher techniques in art such as better color combinations, foreshadowing, foreshortening and captivation of movements. The society became progressive at this time. This was reflected in the art such that subjects in the paintings showcase noble people in the higher status of life where they display their wealth. The next period, which is the neoclassicism in the late 18th century to Mid 19th century marks the influence of the age of Enlightenment. In this time, society is bred with intellectual people and dominant leaders. The new and radical teaching these people are introducing to the public created so much stir in the society. The art works then reflects socio-political concepts that influenced output as shout of their expression in light of their new found knowledge. Most of the output in art is revolutionary and shouting for change. The painting of Horatii Jacques-Louis David “Oath” is one great revolutionary form of art expression in this period (Seth). The next period in 1780AD to 1850AD is the Romanticism. Romanticism is a continuation of the society’s age of enlightenment and the rise of scientific revolution. Artwork outputs in this period are raw with emotions expressing trepidation revealing the society’s angst, nightmares, dreams and desire for freedom. Realism in the year 1848 AD follows the Romanticism. Artists in this period went beyond their illusions, imaginations and dreams. Art output is focused on the realistic things that man encounters in their day to day basis. Artists are more dynamic and painted outdoor real events in the society. “The Nightmare” by Henry Fuseli and “Liberty Leading the People” by Delacroix speaks about this art period (Seth). The next period in art in 1865 AD is the Impressionism. This period is influenced by the society’s Industrial Revolution where artists sought to captivate instant moments from their surroundings through the play of lights in their canvasses. Impressionism is remarkably characterized with the art works with distinctive brush strokes that highly differ from traditional way of painting: the capturing of light in the paintings; light as one of the main focus in the many subjects of the works; the lines of the arts are often blurry, subtle, undefined, and with foggy effect; the combination of colors in the arts are very fanciful (Schumann). Whereas the previous art period focuses on the realistic and plain view of the subjects, where the paintings are painted with many layers of defined colors and lines taking days and months to finish the artworks, the impressionists have different approach. Impressionists strive to capture outdoor scenes, capturing the light and shadows from actual scenes, which meant that they have to finish their painting as fast as possible. Artists strive to capture in their canvass the actual atmosphere of a particular time of the day. The period of impressionism is later followed by post-impressionism. Post-impressionist artists started when they rebelled against the art of impressionism and its limitations. They have modern form of arts with revolutionary styles around the end of 19th century. Major artists include Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Cezzane, Georges Seurat, Gaugin and many more. The name of the art period is derived due to the commentary critic of Roger Fry during the 1910-11 art exhibition ‘Manet and the Post-Impressionists’ (Grisham). The period of post impressionism is not regarded as a formal art movement or intentional stylistic period. Rather, this era just evolved out from the natural expressions of the various artists involved where their styles are far different from conventional as well as the predecessor art period of impressionism. Post impressionism is composed of independent artists with a wide range of art styles and personal preferences in their expressions. Also, these artists gave way to other modern art styles which later birthed other periods of art in the world history. For example, Paul Gauguin style influenced the period of Fauvism, Van Gogh gave way to Expressionism, Paul Cezanne was a major influence for the Cubists and Seurat’s style of pointillism greatly moved the art style of abstract art (Grisham). Expressionism in the 1890 AD is an art period that follows initiated by the unique style of Van Gogh in the Post Impressionism. Art works in this period focus on the raw emotions of colors, revealing intense feelings from the artist’s day to day experience. Paintings are more emotional rather than visually aesthetic. Cubism period in art in 1905 AD then emerged also as effect of post impressionism period. Artists in this period express art through shapes and forms, expressing their souls through distortion and abstract ways. There is depth in their artworks as the captured moments are expressed through breaking down images into their basic geometric forms. The next period which is the Surrealism is an art period influenced and marred with the effects of World War I. Art outputs in this period had dark themes. Artists sought to express thoughts which are unrealistic dealing with symbols confusing the society’s sense of reality. As an aftermath of the Freudan psychological concepts, artists use symbols, dreamlike settings, and disturbing visuals to express deeper thoughts and emotions. Modern art period then follows the age of Surrealism. In this period, art is intertwined with commercialism, pop cultures, advertisements and consumerism. The rise of the modern technology is incorporated with art techniques that blast off creative and genuine work outputs. Society’s role is greatly reflected in the many revolutionary art works that reveal artist’s thoughts and emotions in many ways. Abstract arts in the modern day periods sets into fulfillment a complex longing, broad concepts and morals into unique dimensions. They become more like a psychological moment, transcending art into the dense historical point of its creation (Munstenberg). Art as a form of expressions has evolved in many forms. It has changed radically for the purpose it was birthed. There is a radical evolution of art gaining evolutionary-revolutionary power over humankind that has shaken the society. It has evolved from a series of classical dynasties throughout history. It also has continuously revolutionized radical movements especially in this modern time. Definition of art today greatly varies from how it is classified from old times. Art today is devoid of walls from the conventional aesthetic standards of output where expressions are devised in many various forms. Art is no longer defined with strict rules in terms of aesthetic value and medium used. Anyone has liberty to explore what is inside of them and express them in ways for arts sake. The cultural backgrounds influencing the inner system of the creators’ hands are expressed in the messages and media of their output. The freedom in every artist lets him explore the vastness of his creativity into varied concepts of supreme work using multitudes of possible media. This sense of freedom in the modern art has opened the gates for other kinds of materials to be used as medium in expressing art. Art has turned into a real dynamic symbiotic system where artist’s magnum opuses are more interactive. There are voices that are heard in their silent protests and there are images depicted in shadows. Messages of their works cants with piercing sonata echoed with the various reactions, critics, appreciations and applause from those who perceive. Society influences artists in great impacts such that artists have to reciprocate their internal feelings back to the society. Art evolved from prehistoric dynasties where aesthetic value is the optimum criteria to judge a piece of work to an era where art works are expressed regardless of how they look in the human eye. Extreme works exposing radical movements created in skewed forms with messages hidden in graphics. Medium used has varied from oil based paints into lights and lasers. Canvasses containing them expounds from traditional easel-sized paints into walls, screens, and even a whole room. The vastness of possible resources to paint the many artists’ graffiti has sloped into infinity. Every now and then, a new thing happens. Every now and then, a new material coming from nature has been staged into stardom as they are exposed gradually. The societal climate drives artists more and more to devise creatively what needs to be spoken and be heard. Art contains a history of its own. To scan them one by ones speaks of the world history. They are immediate references of a certain period of time differed with society’s issues, ideas, politics, culture and style. Art works draw parallels for the society’s social and cultural developments (Spry). As art accelerated towards modernization, it can no longer be associated with specified set of rules engraved on stone. There is freedom of expression in art. Messages in art are stronger than words. They cannot be caged with definite formulas. This liberty in art lets the voice in every masterpiece express inner cries forever. The history of society is understood through art without the need for words. Works Cited: Cole, Seth. “Periods of Art: A Timeline of Art”. 2014. Web. 3 May 2014 Grisham,K. Post Impressionism Notes. n.d. West Valley. Web. 2 May 2014 Munsterberg, Marjorie. “Historical Analysis”. Writing about Art. We. 4 May 2014 Spry, Sonia. “Society influences ART influences Society”. 2002. Web. 3 May 2014 Schurman, A. 2012. Characteristics of Impression Art. Life 123, Inc. Web. Read More