LESSON

ART OF EMERGING EUROPE

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Week 14

Learning Objectives:
At the end of this module, you 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.

Overview
Art has been an integral part in European history. From the time of the
ancient civilizations like the Greeks and the Romans all the way to the modern times,
art has been used to communicate ideologies and belief systems prevalent within
their context. Greek and Roman Civilizations were also known as the Classical World
because both cultures aimed to embody the highest possible standard of quality in
all aspects of their societies. When it comes to both art and architecture, both
civilizations intended to promote the possibility of having an objective and widely
accepted standards for beauty. The influence and impact of both classical worlds are
far-reaching. Most art movements have taken inspiration from the certain artistic
elements from the two civilizations. There are different art movements that emerged
within the different time periods in Europe. Each movement has a distinctive
characteristic to them highlighting the different trends and changes as they
transition from one period to the next.

Let’s Get Started

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Activity 1

In the two boxes, draw two different images of something that you
consider beautiful.

In what ways are your drawing similar? In what ways are they different?

Ancient Greece

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 The Greeks were known to excel in various fields and aspects of society. For
example, their political ideals eventually became the framework for the democratic
form of government in modern times. They also valued poetry, drama, and
philosophy, which remain interesting fields of study for the contemporary times. For
those who want to be involved in the arts – painting, sculpture, and architecture –
one is required to have a certain skill sets and body of knowledge.
The Greeks were known to place prime importance in the use of reason. For
this civilization, man was at the center of society and how they trained their minds
could be the very foundation of how they lived their lives. The humanist ideals of the
Greeks were reflected in their democratic form of government. This certain level of
freedom was also reflected in their artworks, architecture, literature, and philosophy.
The Greeks were notably passionate about natural phenomenon and believed that
nature should be in perfect order. These principles, belief systems, and ideologies
are at the core of Greek art and architecture.
The development of Greek art can be divided into four periods: Geometric,
Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic. The Geometric Period was a time when Greece
was starting to get back from the
onslaught of what seemed to be
their Dark Ages. It was a period
when geometric shapes and
patterns have taken the spotlight
in most of the artworks. 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.
Lacoon and His Sons
The peak of Greek
sculpture and architecture was
during the Classical Period. It was during this time when the Greeks found
themselves rebuilding their temples and focusing on creating artworks. The time of
Alexander the Great was called the Hellenistic Period. During this time, art was
primarily focused on showcasing emotions and depicting reality. Hellenistic
sculptures started to emphasize balance while showcasing dynamic poses and a
number of emotions evoked by the subjects. One of the famous Hellenistic
sculptures is the “Lacoon and His Sons.” The sculpture depicts Lacoon, a Trojan
priest, and his sons being strangled by serpents. Their position was a result of
Lacoon’s instructions during the Trojan War. He instructed to keep the gates of Troy
locked up because he felt that the wooden horse offered by the Greeks as a gift to
Athena was a trick. Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea was enraged by such action
which led him to send serpents to strangle Lacoon and his sons.

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 The origins of theatre and drama can be traced back during the Greek
civilization. The followers of Dionysus – the god of fertility – started the Greek
theatre. People who were devoted to Dionysus would dance during ceremonies while
giving their offerings to their god. Eventually, the Dionysians devised a more
structured form of drama involving dances and choral songs, which depicted Greek
mythologies. Eventually the Greeks organized theatrical contests where the
performances were held in front of large citizens.

Ancient Rome
The Roman Republic was established around 500 BCE. This civilization
eventually transformed into one of Western Europe’s mightiest empires. Since they
had expanded and covered many territories, they interacted with neighboring
civilizations, particularly with the Greeks.
It can be said that Roman civilization came of age during the Hellenistic
Period. As mentioned earlier, it was a period when the Greek culture’s influence has
reached its peak in the Mediterranean world. 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. Some would argue that the Romans merely copied
Greek art. This eventually made the Romans produce artworks that are often looking
stern, harsh, and strong. They also invoked the principles of realism in most of their
works, highlighting the features of human beings. Aside from this, the Romans were
also known to be master builders, which earned their reputation for grand
monuments and architectural infrastructures. One of their architectural
achievements would have to be the Colosseum. This amphitheatre was planned and
constructed during the reign of Emperor Vespasian. One of its main uses was for
entertainment purposes like public events and gladiator games. This structure was a

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concrete manifestation of Roman builders’ craftsmanship which focused on logical
organization of the entire edifice.

Poseidon and Medusa

Ancient Greece had a huge impact in the formation of Roman culture. There
are a lot of Greek influences evident in Roman theatre and drama. Writers of
comedy like Platus and Terence have patterned their works to those of Greek works.
Since the Roman audience was not as enthusiastic about theatrical works unlike
their Greek counterparts, most plays had to be included in the Roman games.

Middle Ages
As the term denotes, it is the period between the declines of the Roman
Empire and the Renaissance. It was a period that is characterized by ignorance and
darkness. Another dominant characteristic of the period was that the Church was the
central figure and authority of the period. Since the Church was the most important
figure, the most important products of the early Middle Ages would have to be
copied of the Christian scriptures. The printing press came later after the Middle
Ages, so copies of the scriptures were done by hand. These copies were also done
with illustrations and decorations which highlight the religious focus of the period.
During this time, great cathedrals were also built. These cathedrals can be
categorized into two periods: Romanesque (1050-1200), inspired by the old Roman
Empire; and Gothic (1200-1500), which had a more northern flavor from the Goths –
vulgar and barbarian.

Renaissance Art

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 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. Most artists also added
perspective of depth wherein spaces were explored in different artworks. This
technique provided a three-dimensional perspective of most Renaissance paintings.
Renaissance artists also gave importance to non-religious themes or subjects. This
was also brought by the privatizations of the art during the Renaissance Period,
however most artworks remained religious in this focus and theme.

Michelangelo “David”

During the Renaissance Period, there was also a revival of Roman theatrical
plays. These plays were performed during special occasions at the courts of Italian
princes. The plays were done in such a way that showcased grand and lavish
entertainment for the audience. Aside from the song and dance numbers, they
invested in elaborate stages and costumes for the actors. Eventually, this would lead
to Italy’s opera, which have greatly influenced their tradition of popular theatre.

Mannerism
Mannerism was a period in art history, which a product of the Renaissance
Period. During the Renaissance, artists would observe nature and try their best to
emulate it based on their observations. As the Renaissance ended, artists started
directly copying subjects from existing works of art. Most artworks during this period
displayed distorted figures, two-dimensional spaces, discordant hues and colors, and
lack of defined focal point.

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Baroque and the 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. This period roughly spanned from 1600 to 1750.
Although it was period following the Renaissance, it can be said that a lot of artists
have developed styles and techniques different from their Renaissance predecessors.
Most artists used colourful palettes and ornamentation in their works. This was a
time when Italy in particular, strengthened not only their religion but also other
aspects like politics and art. Expansion was the central theme of this period, which
became very much evident in the artworks produced during this time. Motion and
space were taken into consideration by artists like the use of dramatic lighting and
the concept of time.
Aside from art, music also flourished during the Baroque Period. This is
because people believed that music could serve as powerful tool to communicate
messages that can evoke certain feelings among its listeners. Baroque music was
able to clearly distinguish loud from soft and solo from ensemble. Since the
birthplace of this period was in Rome, it did not come as a surprise that most
composers come from Italy. This include ViValdi, Corelli, and Monteverdi. Eventually,
the influence of Baroque music spread outside Italy and reached other parts of
Europe. Other well-known Baroque composers include Germany’s Bach and Handel.
Since Baroque composers, through their works, tried to evoke certain emotions from
their audience, they began to make more complex musical compositions and
performances. However, it can be noted that initially, this kind of music was limited
only to powerful institutions like the Church and individuals like the patrons.
Eventually, such performances would be made accessible to the middle class and the
masses.

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 The Assumption of the Virgin

Neoclassicism
There seems to be a debate among historians as to the beginnings of modern
art. There are accounts that would attribute for the emergence of this kind of art
during the French Revolution in 1789. However, other historians claim that it was
the year 1863 when there was an emergence of modern painting exhibitions.
Neoclassicism was a movement in Europe that transpired during the late
eighteenth and early nineteenth 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. The ancient Greeks and Europeans had placed emphasis
on human reason and keeping society in order. These very principles were also the
dominant principles during the Enlightenment Period. Some historians would also say
that this movement was a reaction to the artworks produced during the Baroque
Period. There was a call to veer away from such extravagance in terms of style and
form of the Baroque Period.

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Romanticism
Romanticism, as an art movement, used the central themes of Neoclassicist
artworks as a springboard. Romanticists have highlighted heroic elements into their
work. During the Age of Revolutions, there has been a tremendous focus on patriotic
and nationalistic movements. One of the major revolutions in history would be the
French Revolution. Such revolutionary movements became the focal point of most
Romantics works.
The major and central themes of Romanticism movement include the
emphasis on the goodness of mankind. Most works also promoted justice, equality,
and social order. Artists also emphasized emotions and feelings of man, which was a
deviation from the humanist principles of rationalism.

Theodre Gericault, “The Raft of Medusa”

Realism
Realism as a style of work focuses on the accuracy of details that depicts and
somehow mirrors reality. There is a little room for imagination in this movement
since emphasis is placed in observable traits that can concretize through artworks.
Realism was heavily influenced by Hellenistic Greek culture since most artworks
during that period placed emphasis on the human body.
Realism as a modern movement in art veered away from traditional forms of
art. In a way, it revolutionized themes and techniques in paintings. In addition, this
movement also expanded and widened existing notions of what can be considered
as art. Since artists worked within the context of revolutions and social change,
artistic works began to depict real-life events. Idealistic concepts and images were
replaced by real manifestations of society. There is a move to combine both art and

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life in artistic works since the modern world were suitable for subjects of art. This
movement also re-examined existing belief systems and traditions.

Gustave Courbet, “Burial at Ornans”

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. The distinctive characteristic of this
style is that it allows the artist to emphasize the immediate impression he has of a
particular event or scene. The said impression is communicated by the artist through
his work and can be seen through the brushstrokes, distinction of colors, and the
lights and shadows used by the artist.

Berthe Morisot, “The Harbor at Lorient” (1869)

Post-Impressionism
It is an art movement that emerged in France, which is a result of both the
influence and rejection of Impressionism. Most artists that belong to this movement
started off as impressionists but later on saw the inherent limitations and flaws of

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impressionism. This eventually led to the development of individual style that gave
emphasis to defining from with the use of broken colors and short brush stroke.
Some of the famous post-impressionism artists include Paul Cezanne, Georges
Seurat, Paul Gauguin, and Vincent Van Gogh, among others. Most of the works of
the said painters became the framework of the contemporary techniques and trends
during the twentieth century.

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 effect
not only on the art work itself but also how the audience perceive the art. The
leading figure in neo-impressionism was Georges Seurat who recorded optical
sensations on a more scientific manner. His color theories paved the way for the
technique called pointillism. This art technique basically utilizes discrete dots and
dashes of pure color. These elements are believed to blend with the viewer’s
perspective. Aside from Seurat, other neo-impressionist artists include Henri-Edmond
Cross, Maximilien Luce, and Camille Pissarro, among others.

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 manifested in architecture, jewelry and glass design,
among others. In most works, the defining characteristic of Art Nouveau is the
asymmetrical line that usually is in the form of insect wings or flower stalks. The line
is done in such a graceful and elegant manner that somehow evokes a certain power
to it.

Fauvism
This is a style of painting that emerged in France around the turn of the
twentieth century. What makes fauvists revolutionary is that they used pure and
vibrant colors by applying straight from the paint tubes directly to the canvas. This is
done to produce a sense of explosion of colors in the canvas. The fauves, just like
the impressionists, painted directly from nature. The difference lies with how the
fauves have this strong and expressive reaction to how they portray their subjects.
Most fauvist works reject the conservative and traditional renderings of three-
dimensional space. What artists did was they introduced and promoted a picture
space that is defined by the movement of color.

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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 twentieth century. Cubists highlighted the two-
dimensional surface of the picture plane. Focusing on a flat surface was a rejection
of the dominant techniques like the use of perspective, foreshortening, and
modelling. In addition, one of the things that cubism rejected was the existing and
prevailing notion that art should imitate nature. Cubists emphasized that they are
not in any way obliged to copy texture, form, color, and space. They presented a
new depiction of reality that may appear fragmented objects for viewers.

Futurism
It is an early twentieth 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. Later on, the movement’s influence branched out not only in Europe but
also in Russia. The greatest impact of futurism is evident in poetry and visual arts.
Italian poet and editor Filippon Tommaso Marinetti coined the term “futurism”
to reflect his purpose of disregarding the traditional methods of the art in the past.
He believes that art should embrace and embody change, innovation, creativity, and
originality.

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 Let’s Make it Happen
Activity 2

Pretend that you are a commissioned artist and you are asked to create an
artwork (any form or medium) that depicts love. Using the different periods and art
movements in Western Europe, describe (or draw) how you will execute and create
the artwork based on the period you chose.

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 Rubrics for Art
Category Accomplished Developing Beginning Artist
Artist Artist
30-21 20-10 9-0
Material Application Demonstrates Demonstrates Lack demonstration
and Technique qualities and some qualities and of qualities and
characteristics of characteristics of characteristics of
various media, various media, various media,
techniques and techniques and techniques and
processes. processes. processes.
30-21 20-10 9-0
Understanding of Insight and depth Some depth of Lacks content
Content of content content understanding and
understanding are understanding is is clearly a work in
evident. evident. progress.
5-4 3-2 1-0
Completion Most of the steps Some of the steps Artwork appears to
are completed to are completed but be a work in
the best of student needs finishing progress.
ability. touches.

10-9 8-4 3-0

Tool/Material Demonstrates Demonstrates Demonstrates little
Responsibility respectful use of some respect for or no respect for the
tools and art tools and art tools and
materials. materials. materials.
15-11 10-6 5-0
Craftsmanship Artwork reflects Artwork reflects Artwork appears to
deliberate control adequate control be a work in
having good and having some progress with little
craftsmanship. craftsmanship. or no control of
craftsmanship.
10-8 7-4 3-0

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Creative Process Expresses original Expresses original Lacks original idea
idea and insightful ideas but has few and has few details.
perspectives with details.
an appropriate
amount of details.

Let’s Work on This

Assessment

To check your understanding of the lesson, answer the following essay questions:
1. Compare and contrast Greek and Roman artworks.

2. Discuss how Mannerism art became an offshoot of works from the

Renaissance.

3. Explain why Neoclassicism served as a response or reaction to the Baroque

Period.

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