ELEMENTS OF ART

LINE - An element of art defined by a point moving in space. Line may be two-or three-dimensional,
descriptive, implied, or abstract.
SHAPE - An element of art that is two-dimensional, flat, or limited to height and width.
FORM - An element of art that is three-dimensional and encloses volume; includes height, width and
depth (as in a cube, a sphere, a pyramid, or a cylinder). Form may also be free flowing.
VALUE - The lightness or darkness of tones or colors. White is the lightest value; black is the darkest. The
value halfway between these extremes is called middle gray.
SPACE - An element of art by which positive and negative areas are defined or a sense of depth achieved
in a work of art.
TEXTURE - An element of art that refers to the way things feel, or look as if they might feel if touched.
COLOR - An element of art made up of three properties: hue, value, and intensity.
• Hue: Name of color.
• Value: Hue’s lightness and darkness (a color’s
value changes when white or black is added)
• Intensity: Quality of brightness and purity (high intensity = color is strong and bright; low
intensity= color is faint and dull).
ART/PERFORMANCE ART
Art is something that stimulates an individual's thoughts, emotions, beliefs, or ideas through the senses.
Works of art can be explicitly made for this purpose or interpreted on the basis of images or objects.
Performance Art - an artwork or art exhibition created by the activities of the artist or other participants.
It involves four fundamental components: time, space, the artist's body and presence, as well as the
relationship between the creator and the audience. The performances, which are typically created for
art galleries and museums, can occur anywhere, at any time, even the street.
Examples of Performance Art
Acting - the performing art in which a fictional figure is brought to life on stage, in a movie, or on
television using gesture, movement, and intonation.
Dancing - is a performing art that consists of well- chosen or improvised movement patterns.
Singing - the act of producing musical sounds using the voice is known as singing.
Opera - is a type of theatre in which singers play dramatic roles and music plays a major part.
Spoken Word Poetry - usually discuss problems of social justice, politics, race, and community. They are
characterized by rhyme, repetition, improvisation, and word play.
Illusion Performance/Magic - Magic, sometimes known as illusion, is a performance art in which
spectators are amused by created illusions of seemingly impossible feats accomplished via the use of
natural resources.
Public Speaking - It is when you stand in front of an audience and gives a speech on a subject, it is public
speaking. This may occur at a formal or casual gathering.
MEDIUM AND TECHNIQUES OF ARTISTS
MEDIUM - is the material with which the artwork is made. It is the essential tool necessary for artistic
creation.
Example of Medium in Visual in 2-Dimentional Art:
• Watercolour
• Acrylic
• Charcoal
• Stained Glass
• Pastel Charcoal • Chalk
• Tempera • Oil
• Crayons
Example of Medium in Visual in 3-Dimentional Art:
• Stone • Gold
• Granite • Silver • Marble • Lead
• Jade
• Plaster
• Ivory
• Clay
• Metal
• Glass
• Bronze
• Brass Wood • Copper
Example of Medium in Auditory Arts: • Sound
• Word
Example of Medium in Combined Arts:
• Costume
• Mask and Make up
• Lightning
• Set and Props

• Movement • Gestures • Voice

TECHNIQUES OF ARTISTS
TECHNIQUES OF ARTISTS - refers to the process or method of using the mediums in a manner an artist
wishes to finish an artwork.
1. Scratching - it is a graphic technique used to create value drawings. The most common is a black-and-
white technique.
2. Coloring - it is the most basic in art which requires the use of colors applied to drawings or sketches or
you may start with colors right away.
3. Cutting - it is the art of paper designs. It is the art form of cutting paper with sharp scissors or a knife.
It can be as simple or intricate as the paper artist chooses.
4. Engraving - it is a technique of making prints from metal plates into which a design has been incised
with a cutting tool called a burin.
5. Photography - it is an actual likeness of the design that uses a camera to produce the desired copy.
Literally drawing or writing with light.
6. Flowing - acrylic pour painting, sometimes called fluid or flow art, is an abstract art technique where
artists pour fluid acrylic paints on a surface creating art.
7. Printing - it is the process of creating artworks by printing, normally on paper, textiles, boards or
metal plates.
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN
The principles of design are the rules a designer must follow to create an effective and attractive
composition.
Design differs from art in that it has to have a purpose. Visually, this functionality is interpreted by
making sure an image has a center of attention, a point of focus.
1. Emphasis - refers to the focal point of a design and the order of importance of each element within a
design. Emphasis draws the audience attention towards what you want to be notice.
2. Balance and Alignment - never forget that every element you place on a page has a weight. The
weight can come from color, size, or texture. Just like you wouldn’t put all your furniture in one corner
of a room, you can’t crowd all your heavy elements in one area of your composition. Without balance,
your audience will feel as if their eye is sliding off the page.
• Symmetrical design creates balance through equally weighted elements aligned on either side of a
center line.
• Asymmetrical design uses opposite weights (like contrasting one large element with several smaller
elements) to create a composition that is not even, but still has equilibrium.
Formal balance simply means that the elements are symmetrical. Notice in the picture how if the picture
was split down the middle, the two parts would be similar.
Informal balance is a concept to produce overall harmony; however, it is asymmetrical. For example, in
the artwork to the right, the painting is asymmetrical; but, the chickens provide a harmony, meaning
that the chickens look well together.
Radial balance is any type of balance that is based on a circle and its elements project outward from the
center at regular intervals. Things such as a wheel with spokes and a daisy (as well as many sorts of
flowers) demonstrate radial balance. To the left you'll see another example of it in art, notice how it
follows the definition with its circular composition in which the design extends outward from the center.
3.
Contrast - is what people mean when they say a design “pops.” It comes away from the page and sticks
in your memory. Contrast creates space and difference between elements in your design. Your
background needs to be

significantly different from the color of your elements so they work harmoniously together and are
readable. Contrast causes the eye to be drawn to a particular area.
4. Repetition - means simply using the same element over and over again. Often, repetition is a great
way to add texture to the piece. Not only does it create an element of unity within a specific piece of
artwork, but repetition can also help create texture and bring the project to life.
5. Proportion - is the visual size and weight of elements in a composition and how they relate to each
other. It often helps to approach your design in sections, instead of as a whole. Grouping related items
can give them importance at a smaller size—think of a box at the bottom of your poster for ticket
information or a sidebar on a website for a search bar. Proportion can be achieved only if all elements of
your design are well-sized and thoughtfully placed. Once you master alignment, balance, and contrast,
proportion should emerge organically.
6. Movement - is controlling the elements in a composition so that the eye is led to move from one to
the next and the information is properly communicated to your audience. Movement creates the story
or the narrative of your work.
7. White Space - (or negative space) is the only one that specifically deals with what you don’t add.
White space is exactly that—the empty page around the elements in your composition. White space
isn’t sitting there doing nothing— it’s creating hierarchy and organization. Our brains naturally associate
ample white space around an element with importance and luxury. It’s telling our eye that objects in
one region is grouped separately from objects elsewhere.
RULE OF THIRDS
In photography, the rule of thirds is a type of composition in which an image is divided evenly into
thirds, both horizontally and vertically, and the subject of the image is placed at the intersection of those
dividing lines, or along one of the lines itself.
READING THE IMAGE
Reading the Image
According to this, art has two interrelated aspects. First, art has its specificity, that the artist can
manipulate features that are unique to a particular medium. Second, historically situated and shaped by
social, economic, and political force. Both aspects are
important to be considered to fully understand and appreciate art.
FOUR PLANES OF ANALYSIS
1. The Basic Semiotic Plane - is the study of "signs”. It consists of “signifier" or its material/physical
aspect and its "signified" or non-material aspect as concept and value. The visual elements and how
they are used conveys meaning which form the text of the work. It also includes the choice of medium
and technique that refers to material and style that the artist exercises free selection. Then, the format
of the work which are symbolic representation that participates in its meaning. Lastly the physical
properties and marks of the work such as notations, traces, and marks.
Semiotic is concerned with everything that can be taken as a sign. The elements of the visual arts derive
their meaning-conveying potential from two large sources: human psychophysical experiences and the
socio-cultural conventions of a particular society and period.
2. The Iconic Plane or The Image Itself - is still part of the semiotic approach since it is still based on the
signifier-signified relationship. The only difference is that that material element of the work has to do
with the particular features, aspects, and qualities of the image. The iconic plane includes the choice of
the subject which may bear social and political implications. Also part of the iconic plane is the
positioning of the figure (frontal, in profile, three-fourths, etc.) that implies its bearing to the meaning of
the work. This is important not only in defining the relationship of subject and viewer but also in
describing pictorial space. also takes into account the relationship of the figures to one another,
whether massed, isolated, or juxtaposed in terms of affinity or contrast. The style of figuration or the
proportion of the body deals with the image itself.
In the basic semiotic plane which deals with the material aspect of the work and in the iconic plane
which deals with the features of the image itself, one can see that as the signifier cannot be separated
from the signified, concrete fact or material data cannot be divorced from value.
3. The Contextual Plane - resituating the work in its context will bring out the full meaning of the work in
terms of its human and social implications. The viewer draws out the dialogic relationship of art and
society. If one does not view the work in relation to its context, but chooses to confine analysis to the
internal structure of the work then he reduces its meaning. The meaning of a work is a complex that
involves concepts, values, emotions,

attitudes, atmospheres, sensory experiences that arise from the three planes. The experience of a work
cannot be reduced. A broad knowledge of history and the economic, political and cultural conditions,
past and present, of a society is called upon in the contextual plane. It shows progress of time.
4. The Axiological or Evaluative Plane - it has to do with analyzing the values of a work. The plane of
analysis that examines the value of work having a dialogic relationship with public. The evaluation of a
work necessarily includes the analysis and examination of its axiological content since values are
expressed in the work which holds a dialogic relationship with reality. The style of figuration where
subject is taken from visible world; object may be stylized but still recognizable.
ART HISTORY
Importance of Art History
1. The study of art history helps us connect to the past.
2. It provides a comprehensive view of the world.
3. How to integrate information is taught by
studying art history.
4. It aids us in present-day self-orientation.
5. A person's outlook and perspective on the
world can change as a result of art.
CAVE ART
Cave art are man-made paintings or engravings found on the walls, ceilings, or floor of a cave or rock
shelter. It is one of the earliest pieces of evidence of the human animal's appreciation of beauty and a
depiction of a spiritual or sacred aspect of life. Most paintings depict animals that prehistoric people
hunted such as bison, deer, cattle, and horses and many of these paintings are shown with arrows
piercing the animals depicted.
Found in shallow rock shelters, like those created by overhanging stones, while some was made in
complete darkness within deep, abandoned caves and was rarely discovered by humans.
It is in the far recesses of caves which protect them from the fading power of sunlight and human
exposure.
Aside from animal paintings, some human figures and other symbols have also been discovered. Cave
art also shows the earliest form of graphic communication and the emergence of language.
“Cave art may provide evidence of a time when people were able to engrave their ideas on stone.”
History of Cave Art
• Cave Art dates as far as back as 65,000 years ago to the time of Neanderthals.
• The Stone Age was a prehistoric period before agriculture, domestication of animals, and the use of
metal tools.
• The first humans to create art such as paintings and sculptures began 30, 000 B.C.
• Hunting were common themes in prehistoric art since Stone Age artists depended heavily on nature.
• They used art to express their desires for natural abundance and protection against dangers of the
wilderness.
• Neanderthals lived in a land of abundant limestone caves.
EGYPTIAN ART
Egyptian art is strongly influenced by religion and focuses on afterlife.
History of Egyptian Art
Images of animals, humans, and supernatural creatures carved into rock walls during the Pre- dynastic
Period in Egypt (c. 6000 – c. 3150 BCE) symbolized the start of Egyptian Art.
The art was created and produced with the intention of serving a purpose.
Egyptian
• Created for ritualistic purposes and was meant to last a very long time.
• Arms and legs are kept close to the body that makes it unbreakable.
• These poses are frontal or bi-symmetrical.
• Have a smooth and delicate surface despite of
using ancient tools. Egyptian Painting
• Featured rigid figures, often a profile view with one leg advanced forward like a twisted body
formation.
• The size of the paintings signified their rank in the society.
GREEK ART
Greek art, on the other hand, was far more influenced by philosophy and focused on human form and
life.
History of Greek Art
• As the Aegean region began to stabilize in the eighth century BCE (700–800), ancient Greek art
"emerged“.
• "Greek-style art" was produced throughout the region during the Hellenistic Period, which began with
the death of Alexander the Great.
• Greek art is primarily composed of images, including those of the gods, heroes, and humans.
Greek Sculpture
• Represent the citizens' pride in their city like gods, musicians, soldiers, weavers, elders, heroes, and
other scenes.
• Show the idea of contrapposto.

• They tried to depict the human figure as precisely and accurately as possible, striving for realism.
Greek Pottery
• Is also known to excel in creating vases.
• It can be classified into two types: earliest style (red clay with black forms) and later style
(black base with a red form).
ROMAN ART
The story of ancient Rome is a story of evolution, of how a civilization's ability to adapt and dominate
can lead to its survival for over 1,000 years.
Rome began as a small village on central Italy's Tiber River.
ANCIENT ROME THREE MAJOR PERIODS
➢ The Regal Period (753 B.C – 510 B.C) - Rome was a monarchical state during the Regal Period, with a
succession of around seven kings in power. Romulus is said to have been the first king of Rome. In 753
B.C., he and his brother Remus are credited with founding Rome.
➢ The Republican Period (509 B.C – 29 B.C) - Primarily ruled by two annually representatives called
Praetors, who were later called Consuls.
o Praetors/Consuls - Served to balance power and prevent tyranny. Example: Julius Caesar.
o Veristic Portraiture: Sort of hyperrealism in sculpture where the naturally occurring features of the
subject are exaggerated, often to the point of absurdity.
o Rome developed its own political and cultural ideology, and along with it a clearly identifiable Roman
artistic culture.
➢ The Imperial Period (27 B.C – A.D. 476) - “Rise of the Roman Empire” Led by Octavian/Augustus and
Nero.
Imperial Roman Art Major Periods:
1. Augustan Period (27BC-14AD)
• Titus Livius/ Livy - He embellished the
narratives of Roman heroism in his
history.
• Publius Vergilius Maro/Vergil - to
highlight the magnificence and validate the triumph of an empire that had ruled the majority of the
known world.
• Ara Pacis Augustae - an excellent example of the propaganda used by Augustus to promote the Pax
Romana, personifying the city of Rome and the gods of Rome amid abundance and prosperity.
2. Julio-Claudian Period (14AD-68AD) - The Julio- Claudian dynasty was characterized by extravagance,
during which imperial portraiture was used for propagandistic purposes. Example art: Marble head of a
deity wearing a Dionysiac fillet.
3. Flavian Period (69AD-98AD) - Is primarily remembered for its extensive building program on the city
of Rome, which was designed to fully recover the capital had sustained from the Great Fire of 1964 and
the civil war of 69. It was a time of successful wars, great building projects, and catastrophic events.
Example art: Flavian Amphitheater/Colosseum.
Roman Sculpture
Full Statues Bust
Sarcophagi Roman Painting
Reliefs
• Man and woman seated side by side
• A cubiculum
• Seated woman playing a kithara
Roman Mosaic
• The Fish
• Roman Bacchus Floor Mosaic
• Alexander the Great & Bucephalus Mosaic
Roman Architecture
• Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine • Arch of Titus
• Pont du Gard Aqueduct
• Insula of Diana
MEDIEVAL ART

A vast range of centuries and genres are covered in the history of medieval art. Some of the most
priceless specimens of middle Ages art may be seen in churches, cathedrals, and other religious
doctrines. Medieval art was prevalent in European countries, the Middle East, and North Africa. The use
of priceless materials like gold for jewellery, mosaic backdrops, church decorations, and manuscript
decorations was very widespread.
MEDIEVAL ART MAJOR PERIODS
1. Early Medieval Art - The fourth century and 1050 A.D. saw the creation of art throughout this time.
Projects for special social and religious rituals were commissioned at this period by the Catholic Church
and affluent oligarchs. Roman catacombs or burial crypts beneath the city hold many of the earliest
surviving works of Christian art. Church interiors were ornately decorated with Roman mosaics, complex
paintings, and marble incrustations and artists were engaged to create works depicting Biblical stories
and classical subjects.
2. Romanesque Medieval Art - Romanesque architecture was distinguished by its semi- circular arches,
substantial stone walls, and robust design. The use of stone in sculptures to reflect biblical themes and
church ideas was also common at this period. Stained glass and the on-going tradition of illuminated
manuscripts were two other prominent mediums at this time.
3. Gothic Medieval Art - Gothic art is a type of late medieval art that first emerged in the 12th century
with the renovation of the Abbey Church in Saint-Denis, France. Gothic architecture provided ground-
breaking structural innovations including ribbed vaults, flying buttresses, and ornamental pinnacles, all
of which helped to create higher, lighter architectural styles.
CHINESE PAINTING
Chinese artists have a long history of creating art, and they used a variety of mediums. They were very
technological and invented techniques like casting bronze, a metal composed of copper and tin. They
also created fresh techniques for glazing and firing ceramics. Many pieces of early Chinese art were
associated with burial rites, and the majority of it tended to reflect class structure as it developed in
China through the ages.
Chinese painting is much more focused with water- based techniques than it is with oils or acrylics, in
contrast to Western art.
Compared to Western styles, Chinese art is typically more stylized, abstract, and lacking in realism. It
may be considered to favor landscape painting than portrait or
figure painting and to emphasize the value of white space.
Traditional Chinese painting ("guo hua") is done using a brush made of animal hair dipped in black ink
(made from pine soot and animal glue), which is akin to calligraphy, which is thought to be the highest
form of painting. Oils are rarely employed. Although paper and silk are the most common media, some
paintings are also done on walls and lacquer work.
Gongbi is a careful realist technique in Chinese painting, the opposite of the interpretive and freely
expressive xieyi style. The name is from the Chinese gong jin meaning 'tidy'.
Examples:
••
Appreciating Plums (1598-1652) By Chen Hongshou Guangdong Provincial Museum (Ming Dynasty art)
Portraits of the Yongzheng Emperor (1723-35) Hanging scroll from the later era of Qing Dynasty art in
Palace Museum, Beijing
UKIYO-E
Ukiyo-e, which is frequently transcribed as "pictures of the floating world," is a term for Japanese
paintings and woodblock prints that primarily portrayed the pleasure areas of cities during the Edo
Period, when the Shoguns' peaceful rule over Japan encouraged sensual attributes of life in a peaceful
environment. These ideal stories portray the distinctly Japanese aesthetics of beauty, poetry, nature,
spirituality, love, and sex in addition to describing the pastimes and weather of the time.
Japanese screens or scrolls frequently featured Ukiyo- e prints, adding to their sense of narrative.
Each artist contributed their own distinctive styles; the images shared a unifying aesthetic that
incorporated aerial viewpoints, minute details, distinct contours, and flat color, advancing the earlier
Yamato-e tradition of Japanese art.
Examples:
• Beauty Looking Back (17th century)
• Katsushika Hokusai's Cuckoo and Azaleas
(1834)
• Hiroshige's Isaki and Kasago Fish (1830s)
RENAISSANCE ART
The Renaissance may come to life in the mind's eye through scenes painted with a profound and
emotional realism or through images of human figures sculpted in the round. However, as a concept, it
is a difficult one. Following the middle Ages, Europe had a furious period of cultural, artistic, political,
and economic "rebirth" during the Renaissance.

This period saw the development of some of the greatest thinkers, writers, statesmen, scientists, and
artists in human history as global exploration opened up new nations and civilizations to European
trade. It is said that the Renaissance was responsible for bridging the cultural divide between the Middle
Ages and modern society.
FACTS ABOUT RENAISSANCE PERIOD:
• The Renaissance Period began in Italy.
• The term "renaissance," which comes from the French word for "rebirth," was given and coined by
Giorgio Vasari around 1550 in his book The
Lives of the Artists.
• It spread rapidly in some areas, slowly in
others.
Example of Renaissance Art
The word means spring in Italian. Primavera is a painting of Sandro Botticelli whose original name was
Alessandro di Mariano Filipepi.
The painting is also known as 'Allegory of Spring'. It is believed that Botticelli is created this piece of art
around 1482 and is said to be one of the prime examples of Renaissance art.
MANNERISM
The paintings and bronze sculptures on this trip can be characterized as "mannerism" in terms of style.
Given its emphasis on self-conscious artifice over realistic depiction, mannerism—this is derived from
the Italian manière, which is simply “style”—is frequently referred to as the “stylish style?" The
artificiality of Mannerism— it’s odd, occasionally acidic color, its logical compression of space, the
exaggerated anatomy, and extended proportions of people in complex, serpentine poses—often induces
apprehension.
Example of Mannerism Art
The Madonna with the Long Neck (Italian: Madonna dal collo lungo), also known as Madonna and Long
Child with Angels and St. Jerome, is an Italian Mannerist oil painting by Parmigianino, dating from c.
1535-1540 and depicting Madonna and Child with angels.
BAROQUE
From the late 1500s through the early 1700s, which historians often refer to as the early modern period,
the Baroque style was popular in Europe.
Kings of this time, like Louis XIV of France, were consolidating the monarchy's power at the expense of
the rural nobility.
King and queens commissioned works of art and hired sculptors, architects, and artists to create works
to exalt the crown and the monarchy because the procedure frequently increased the kingdom's wealth.
The Church frequently ordered paintings prior to the Baroque era; therefore religious themes like Jesus,
the
Virgin Mary, and events from the Old Testament were frequently shown in them.
Baroque artists frequently painted portraits of royal families or scenes from court life.
ROCOCO
Early in the 18th century, the Rococo style of decorative arts, painting, architecture, and sculpture
emerged in Paris. It quickly spread throughout France and later to other nations, primarily Germany and
Austria. Lightness, elegance, and an enthusiastic use of curved natural shapes in decoration are its
defining characteristics. It is also characterized by soft colors and curved lines and features scenes of
love, nature, amorous encounters, light-hearted entertainment, and youth. The French term rocaille,
which means rock or debris, is where the name "rococo" originates. The term "rocaille" is used to
describe the serpentine patterns found in Rococo-era decorative arts and refers to the shell-work found
in garden grottoes.
The French court relocated from Versailles to their old Parisian residences after the death of Louis XIV,
renovating them with gentler patterns and more modest materials than the King's great baroque style.
The French elite no longer lived in opulent rooms decorated with priceless metals and vibrant hues;
instead, they now inhabited private spaces with boiserie, mirrored glass, and stucco ornamentation. This
new design is distinguished by its asymmetry, delicate curves, elegance, and the delightful new paintings
that adorned the walls of these rooms with scenes from everyday life and courtly love.
NEO-CLASSICISM
Neoclassicism is a revival of the classical past. A movement interested in reviving Greco-Roman
literature, art, architecture, philosophy, and theatre in the 18th century.
It focuses on human feelings, emotions and expressions.
Characteristics of Neo-Classicism
• Valued common sense and clarity.
• Structures are well ordered.
• Content is accurate and believable.
• Characters are portrayed realistically. • Showed humankind to be flawed.
• Characters are conservative and controlled.
• Influenced by Greco-Roman writing and
philosophy. History of Neo-Classicism
• Developed in Rome (Europe) in the 18th century • When artists began to imitate Greek and Roman
antiquity and painters of the Renaissance as a reaction to the excessive style of Baroque and
Rococo.
• Artists then, according to Winckelmann began
to study Greek and Roman art, using this new

knowledge of the past in their art, creating their own “new" classical style.
How did the Neo Classical Revival start?
With the advent of the Grand Tour, a trip in which European students travelled around the continent
collecting antiquities. That laid the foundation of many great collections spreading a neoclassical revival
throughout Europe. These discoveries, such as the paintings and mosaics found at the excavations of
Pompeii and Herculaneum in 1738, increased artistic fascination and curiosity for antiquity.
The neoclassical movement influenced decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music and
architecture and it continued until the early 19th century, when it began to compete with another
artistic movement, Romanticism.
Neoclassicism was also an important movement in the United States especially in politics and
architecture. American Neoclassicism took inspiration from the ancient civilizations of Rome and Greece
both for politics as well as for architecture. One of the examples are the United States Capitol Building in
Washington D.C. It is still decorated with these facades of white marble imitating the ancient Greek
monuments.
And portraits of American presidents are depicted and carved in the manner of Roman emperors.
Examples:
• United States Capitol Building in Washington D.C.
• President George Washington (Oil Painting) Artists of Neoclassicism
➢ AntonioCanova
• Born on November 1, 1757 in Possagno, Veneto, Italy
• Antonio Canova was the most famous and sought-after artist in Europe during his lifetime
• One of the leaders of the emerging neoclassical style, alongside Jacques- Louis David.
• A highly skilled sculptor
Works: Daedalus and Icarus
➢ Jacques-LouisDavid
• Jacques-Louis David was a French painter in the Neoclassical style,
• Born on August 30, 1748
• Considered to be the preeminent
painter of the era.
Works: The Oath of the Horatii, 1786
➢ JeanAugusteDominiqueIngres
• Born in 1780 in the southern French town of Montauban
Works: Gli Aforisimi
ROMANTICISM
Romanticism, defined as an aesthetic in literary criticism around 1800, gained momentum as an artistic
movement in France and Britain in the early decades of the nineteenth century and flourished until mid-
century. With its emphasis on the imagination and emotion.
Works during Romanticism
➢ Boxers (1818) by Théodore Gericault French
Gericault began to practice lithography—a medium associated with French Romanticism—in 1817,
quickly mastering the technique. This image represents the popular English sport of boxing: two
muscular combatants, in strikingly similar poses, confront one another.
➢ Alfred
Gericault French
(1810–1860)
by Théodore
Dedreux
The subject of this portrait is the nephew of Gericault’s friend the painter Pierre-Joseph Dedreux-Dorcy.
This canvas is one of a small group of drawings and paintings (in various collections) that depict the
eight- or nine-year-old Alfred and his younger sister, Elisabeth, with remarkable self-possession and
grace for their age.
Artists in Romanticism ➢ ThomasCole
Lifespan: February 1, 1801 – February 11, 1848Nationality: American
Romanticism found its primary expression in the United States in the works of a group of painters of a
movement known as the Hudson River School.
REALISM
Realism is an art style that focuses on making pieces look as realistic and true-to-life as possible. Think of
realistic portraits, landscapes, and still life paintings. These are all forms of realism which aim to capture
the subject in a realistic style, and possibly to portray the subject in a way that captures the realities of
life. While the subjects may sometimes appear somewhat stylized, realism seeks to present subjects as
they look in real life.
History of Realism
Realism is the 19th century movement that developed in France with the main objective to represent
reality through the depiction of real-life events and subjects in a naturalistic manner. The term
“Realism” was coined by the French painter Gustave Courbet when in 1855 during the Exposition
Universelle in Paris some of his

works were rejected by the jury. Courbet decided to display his paintings privately in his Pavillon du
Realism and to accompany its exhibition with a manifesto entitled "Le Réalisme".
Portrait of an Unknown Woman is a famous painting produced by Ivan Kramskoi in 1883. This painting is
also widely known by the name “The Unknown Woman”, “An Unknown Lady”. This painting by the
Russian artist is one of Russia’s best-known artworks.
Artists in Realism
➢ Adolph von Menzel, during his time, this German artist was best known for demonstrating scenes
from the life of Frederick the Great. He wanted to capture the monarch as a man who was both hated
and admired, simply as he was. Menzel is now also famous for capturing, with amazing detail and
precision, the scenes, and objects of everyday life. He achieved this due to his exemplary skills as a
draftsman. His art not only presents reality with precision but also has an unmatched liveliness to it.
Adolph Menzel was the most successful artist of his era in Germany; and along with Caspar David
Friedrich, one of the two most prominent German artists of the 19th century.
➢ Thomas Eakins a painter, photographer, sculptor, and fine arts educator; Thomas Eakins received
little recognition during his lifetime, but he is now widely considered as one of the most influential
figures in American art history. Eakins was interested in bringing out the individuality of his models and
created what are now regarded as masterpieces in portraiture. His most renowned work, The Gross
Clinic, is “celebrated as a great 19-century medical history painting, featuring one of the most superb
portraits in American art”. Apart from his art, Eakins is credited for introducing “the camera to the
American art studio” and for being an influential art teacher. He is recognized as the most important
realist in American art in 19th and early 20th century.
Additonal Informations about artists: ➢ CAMILLEPISSARRO
“The Father of Impressionism”
Dutch-French painter and printmaker who was a key figure in the history of Impressionism. Pissarro was
the only artist to show his work in all eight Impressionist group exhibitions; throughout his career he
remained dedicated to the idea of such alternative forums of exhibition.
➢ ÉDOUARDMANET
Is a French modernist painter, He was one of the first 19th-century artists to paint modern life, as well as
a pivotal figure in the transition from Realism to Impressionism.
Born into an upper-class household with strong political connections, Manet rejected the naval career
originally envisioned for him; he became engrossed in the world of painting. His early masterworks, The
Luncheon on the Grass (Le déjeuner sur l'herbe) and Olympia, both 1863, caused great controversy and
served as rallying points for the young painters who would create Impressionism. Today, these are
considered watershed paintings that mark the start of modern art. The last 20 years of Manet's life saw
him form bonds with other great artists of the time; he developed his own simple and direct style that
would be heralded as innovative and serve as a major influence for future painters.
➢ MICHELANGELO
Michelangelo is an Italian Renaissance sculptor, painter, architect, and poet considered to be the
greatest living artist in his lifetime, and ever since then he has been held to be one of the greatest artists
of all time. A number of his works in painting, sculpture, and architecture rank among the most famous
in existence. Although the frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel (Vatican; see below) are probably
the best known of his works, the artist thought of himself primarily as a sculptor.
➢ VINCENTVANGOGH
Vincent Willem van Gogh was a Dutch Post- Impressionist artist who emerged as one of the most
famous figures in the history of Western art after his death. The striking colour, emphatic brushwork,
and contoured forms of his work powerfully influenced the current of Expressionism in modern art. Van
Gogh’s art became astoundingly popular after his death, especially in the late 20th century, when his
work sold for record- breaking sums at auctions around the world and was featured in blockbuster
touring exhibitions.
ART MOVEMENTS
Art movements are a tendency or style in art with a specific common philosophy or goal, followed by a
group of artists during a restricted period of time.
IMPRESSIONISM ERA
After the end of realism, Impressionism era came that lasted from 1886 to 1891 which marked as its
peak years and had an impact on almost all painters and sculptors. Mainly sunny landscapes, portraits,
leisure scenes etc. were created by artists in this period as oppose to impressionism's empirical realism.
The central focus of the artists of this era was the effect of color and light and they mostly painted ''en
plein air" or in the open air it basically just means painting outside.
This is one the reason why their canvasses during this era weren't too big. Smaller canvasses are easier
to carry outside.

During impressionism era, three art movements emerged:

• Impressionism
• Post-impressionism • Neo-impressionism
IMPRESSIONISM
Impressionism is a 19th-century avant-garde art movement that originated in France as a reaction
against the established art of the French Academy and the government-sponsored annual exhibitions
(Salons). Paris Salon organized by the Académie des Beaux-Arts.
The academy loves grand historical subjects, mythological scenes, and traditional themes. The jury of
the salon has a quite conservative taste. They got to choose whose works were to be exhibited and
those didn't make the cut, will be rejected.
But then came the impressionist who didn't just want to sit around, waiting for the jury to accept them.
They wanted to become independent from the salon and its artistic expectations. They held their very
own exhibition and that is when the famous art movement called impressionism was born! They call
themselves — The Anonymous Society of Painters, Sculptors and Printmakers.
''impression over realism"
By utilizing visible brushstrokes to capture the shifting characteristics of light and movement, the
Impressionists attempted to capture on canvas an "impression" of how a landscape, object, or person
appeared to them at a particular instant in time. We can see best how light can affect the mood and
atmosphere of a place when looking at impressionist works.
The most common theme among these impressionists the urban life of france. The term impressionism
came from Claude Monet's paiting, Impression, Sunrise (1872). French art critic Louis Leroy (1812–1885)
poked fun at Monet’s 1872 painting Impression, Sunrise, writing that: “a preliminary drawing for a
wallpaper pattern is more finished than this seascape.”
Characteristics and Style of Impressionism
1. Brush Strokes: Compare to academic paintings in Paris Salon, impressionist works seemed more
casual and informal and tend not to copy from everything realistically from nature
2. Blurry lines: The lines of the Impressionist art are often blurry, which do not clearly define one object
from another in a painting. Such lines create a foggy effect, adding to the dreamy and abstract mood of
the painting.
3. Lighting: Lighting was one of the focal points of the Impressionist art movement.
4. Bright Colors: Impressionist paintings are usually in separated vibrant colors, allowing viewers’
perception to mix them.
Famous Impressionists
Édouard Manet (1832–1883) - He was a French painter. One of the first 19th century artists to approach
modern and postmodern-life subjects, he was a pivotal figure in the transition from Realism to
Impressionism. Some of his works are The Luncheon on the Grass (1862-1863) and Olympia (1863).
Claude Monet (1840–1926) - Claude Monet is arguably the most famous of the Impressionists as well as
the only one who continued to fervently paint nature scenes throughout his life. Some of his works are
the Water Lilies (1897-1899), Woman with a Parasol (1875), and The Poppy Field (1873).
Edgar Degas (1834–1917) - He focused on human figure and movement. He painted scenes of dancers
and horse racings. Some of his works are The Rehearsal (1873- 1878), The Dance Class (1874), and Horse
Race (1883- 1885).
Camille Pissarro (1830–1903) - Often regarded as the “Father of Impressionism,” Camille Pissarro was
the only artist, along with Edgar Degas, to take part in all eight of the Impressionist exhibitions from
1874 to 1886. Some of his works are The Frost (1873) and Boulevard Montmartre at night (1897).
POST-IMPRESSIONISM
Post-Impressionism was an avant-garde art movement that emerged in France during the late 19th
century. Post-Impressionist painters experimented with color and perspective by rejecting Impressionist
ideas about natural light. Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, post-Impressionism
changed the path of art history by influencing modernist painters like Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse.
The Post-Impressionists both expanded Impressionism and rejected its limitations; they continued to
use vibrant colors, thick layers of paint, and realistic subject matter but tended to highlight geometric
patterns, distort forms for expressive purposes, and use unnatural and seemingly random colors.
Characteristics and Style of Post-impressionism
1. Emotional Symbolism: According to Paul Cézanne, “a work of art which did not begin in emotion is not
a work of art.” They believed that subject matter should elicit emotions rather than be used as a visual
tool or a means to an end.
2. Evocative Color: Post-Impressionists purposely used an artificial color palette to depict their
emotionally driven perceptions of the world around them, in contrast to the Impressionists who tried to
capture the impact of natural light on tonality.
3. Distinctive Brushstrokes: Most post- Impressionist artworks include recognizable, bold brushstrokes,
just like works created in the impressionist style.
Styles of Post-Impressionism
Pointillism is a painting style that was developed by Georges Seurat and Paul Signac and uses tiny, bright
dots to bring an image together. Pointillism draws inspiration from Impressionism's dappled
brushstrokes; it emphasizes the flatness and formality that are present in many post-impressionist
works.
Cloisonnism is a post-impressionist style characterized by flat areas of color and dark linework. It was
created by two French artists, Émile Bernard and Louis Anquetin, who took inspiration from stained
glass and Japanese woodblock prints (at the time, these were very popular collectibles among artists).
Japonisme, the use of perspective and color in Japanese art served as a source of aesthetic inspiration
for Impressionist painters, just as it did for Vincent van Gogh and other post-impressionists, who
replicated and even copied ukiyo-e prints in their own work.
Primitivism, these works show the artists' interest in emotion and even dream-like subject matter, as
well as the two key characteristics of Primitivism—an interest in non-Western subject matter and a
naive manner of painting.
Famous Post- Impressionists
Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) - A Dutch painter, Vincent van Gogh generally considered and one of the
greatest of the post-impressionists. The striking color, emphatic brushwork, and contoured forms of his
work powerfully influenced the current of Expressionism in modern art. Some of his works are Starry
Night (1889) and Café Terrace at Night (1888).
Paul Cézanne (1839–1906) - was the preeminent French artist of the Post-Impressionist era, widely
appreciated toward the end of his life for insisting that painting stay in touch with its material, virtually
sculptural origins. Some of his works are A Modern Olympia (1870), The Card Players (1892), and
Madame Cézanne in a Red Dress (1890).
Paul Gaugin (1848–1903) - is one of the most significant French artists to be initially schooled in
Impressionism, but who broke away from its fascination with the everyday world to pioneer a new style
of painting broadly referred to as Symbolism. Some of his works are Still-Life with Fruit and Lemons
(1880), Four Breton Girl (1886), and Self-Portrait 'Les Miserables' (1888).
NEO-IMPRESSIONISM
Neo-Impressionism or new impressionism is an avant- garde art movement in French painting of the late
19th century that reacted against the empirical realism of Impressionism by relying on systematic
calculation and scientific theory to achieve predetermined visual effects.
"neo" meaning new
The term neo-impressionism was first used by an art critic Félix Fénéon to describe the paintings of
Seurat,
Signac, and their supporters, which were exhibited at the final Impressionist exhibition in 1886 in Paris.
The optical mixture gave greater vibrancy of color and maximum brilliance to painting. By emphasizing
on the formal construction of compositions, they also tried to bring back the sense of structure and
order that the Impressionists had shattered in painting.
Known as "melange optique" ("optical mixture") which involved placing dots of pure color separately on
the canvas and allowing the eye to mix the paint, which happened when the viewer stepped back at
least a couple of feet from the painting.
Characteristics and Style of Neo-impressionism
Divisionism: also called Chromoluminarism, is a color theory that advocates placing small patches of
pure pigment separately on the canvas in order that the viewer's eye will optically blend the colors.
Pointillism: (from the French word "point" meaning "dot") is a characteristic of Neo-Impressionism
painting, in which hundreds of small dots or dashes of pure color are applied to the canvas, to create
maximum luminosity.
The Difference between Divisionism and Pointillism
The difference between divisionism and pointillism is brushstrokes. Divisionism brushstrokes are usually
shaped more like a cube, while pointillism brushstrokes are usually shaped more like dots.
Famous Neo-Impressionists
Georges Seurat (1859 – 1891) - Georges Seurat born on December 2, 1859 in Paris, France, is chiefly
remembered as the pioneer of the Neo-Impressionist technique commonly known as Pointillism, or
Divisionism. Some of his works are Bathers at Asnières (1884), The Circus (1891), and A Sunday on La
Grande Jatte (1884).
Paul Signac (1863 – 1935) - Signac's style changed substantially as he incorporated the techniques and
theories of neo-impressionism (also known as "divisionism" and "pointillism") that he developed in
collaboration with Georges Seurat. Some of his works are The Milliners (1886), Opus 217. Against the
Enamel of a Background Rhythmic with Beats and Angles, Tones, and Tints, Portrait of M. Félix Fénéon
(1890), and Woman with a Parasol (1893).
Henri-Edmond Cross (1856 – 1910) - Initially drawn to naturalism and then impressionism, he eventually
adopted the pointillist technique. However, the strict precepts of pointillism did not appeal to Cross's
predisposition for individual expression. he began to develop a neo-impressionist technique that was
more intensely colorful and varied in its application. The abstracted forms and dazzling colors that the
artist displays in these paintings promptly paved the way for fauvism. Some of his works are Women
Tying the Vine (1890) and Madame Hector France (1891).
SYMBOLISM

Symbolism was both an artistic and a literary movement that suggested ideas through symbols and
emphasized the meaning behind the forms, lines, shapes, and colors. Symbolism can also be seen as
being at the forefront of modernism, in that it developed new and often abstract means to express
psychological truth and the idea that behind the physical world lay a spiritual reality.
What unites the various artists and styles associated with symbolism is the emphasis on emotions,
feelings, ideas, and subjectivity rather than realism. Their works are personal and express their own
ideologies, particularly the belief in the artist's power to reveal truth. Symbolists could take the
ineffable, such as dreams and visions, and give it form.
In terms of specific subject matter, the Symbolists combined religious mysticism, the perverse, the
erotic, and the decadent. Symbolist subject matter is typically characterized by an interest in the occult,
the morbid, the dream world, melancholy, evil, and death.
Famous Symbolists
Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) - Eugène-Henri-Paul Gauguin, French painter, printmaker, and sculptor who
sought to achieve a “primitive” expression of spiritual and emotional states in his work during his self-
imposed exile in Tahiti, French Polynesia. Some of his works are Where do we come from? Who are we?
Where are we going? (1897), Vision After the Sermon (1888), and The Yellow Christ (1889).
Gustave Moreau (1826-1898) - Gustave Moreau, French Symbolist painter known for his erotic paintings
of mythological and religious subjects. The only influence that really affected Moreau’s development
was that of his master, Théodore Chassériau (1819–56). Some of his works are Oedipus and the Sphinx
(1864), Orpheus (1865), and Jupiter and Semele (1895).
Odilon Redon (1840-1916) - A French Symbolist painter, lithographer, and etcher of considerable poetic
sensitivity and imagination, whose work developed along two divergent lines. His prints explore
haunted, fantastic, often macabre themes and foreshadowed the Surrealist and Dadaist movements.
Some of his works are The Cyclops (1914), Closed Eyes (1890), and Cactus Man (1882).
Mikhail Vrubel (1856-1910) - Mikhail Vrubel was a Russian painter who is regarded as the greatest
Russian Symbolist painter. Vrubel certainly was a pioneer of modernism, not only in his development of
style but he was also highly innovative with his technique. Some of his works are Portrait of Savva
Mamontov (1897), The Swan Princess (1900), and The Virgin and Child (1884).
ART NOUVEAU
Art Nouveau was an innovative international style of modern art that became fashionable from about
1890 to the First World War. It is a highly decorative art movement started by the new middle-class,
which
established itself in cities throughout Europe and the United States.
It was literally new since the term Art Nouveau is a French word for "new art". Everything from
architecture, interior design, decorative arts, fashion and graphic design was influenced by this new art.
They were tired academic art and historicism of 19th- century art and dreamed of that would be more
appropriate to the age of electricity, cinema and automobiles.
Still, they didn't like everything that the Industrial Revolution brought, primarily growing mass
production. They saw it as dehumanizing and were concerned that it would bring uniformity and
unimaginativeness into the realm of art.
The most recognizable feature of Art Nouveau is undoubtedly the delicate use of curves and natural
forms. In nature, the artists found sinuous curves of plant life and insects. To inspire lightness and a
sensuality of form and sense of movement in their work.
It also found great inspiration from medieval art, folk art, Rococo style, and Japanese art (Ukiyo-e
prints). The style's trademark whiplash curves and organic shapes can be found everywhere, from
architecture and interior decor to illustrations.
The most intriguing feature of Art Nouveau is its obsession with representation of the female form. Art
Nouveau artists draw inspiration from the natural curves and beauty of the female body to create a
distinctly sensual and feminine appeal to their works.
Famous Art Nouveau Artists
Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) - An Austrian painter, founder of the school of painting known as the Vienna
Sezession. He is still remembered as one of the greatest decorative painters of the 20th century, while
also producing one of the century's most significant bodies of erotic art. Some of his works are Pallas
Athene (1898), Medicine (1900), and The Beethoven Frieze (1902).
Alphonse Mucha (1860-1939) - Czech artist, Alphonse Mucha’s instantly recognizable works feature
beautiful women with long tendrils of hair and flowing garments surrounded by decorative botanical
motifs in delicate shades of peach, gold, ochre, and eau de Nil. Some of his works are Spring (1896),
Madonna of the Lilies (1905), and Job (1896).
Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926) - Antoni Gaudí, Catalan architect, whose distinctive style is characterized by
freedom of form, voluptuous colour and texture, and organic unity. Gaudí worked almost entirely in or
near Barcelona. Some of his works are Palau Güell (1886- 88), Casa Batlló (1904-06), and Colònia Güell
(1890- 1918).
Aubrey Beardsley (1872-1898) - Beardsley developed a reputation as one of the most controversial
artists of

his time. The linear elegance of his designs coupled with the artist's bizarre sense of humor and
fascination with the grotesque and taboo simultaneously intrigued and repelled his Victorian audience.
Some of his works are The Peacock Skirt (1893), The Black Cat (1894), and The Abbe (1896).
FAUVISM
Fauvism is generally about simplified shapes and bright colors unrelated to reality. The movement was
short- lived, only lasting between 1905 to 1910. But it had a significant impact on the art movements
which followed, particular in relation to the use of abstraction and color and was proved to be an
important precursor to Cubism and Expressionism.
Fauvism got it unusual name when the art critic Louis Vauxcelles describe these artists as Les Fauves -
meaning "wild beasts". The art critic saw their works in an exhibition placed next to classical marble
sculptures and called the scene Donatello among the wild beasts. Despite the fact that it wasn't a
compliment he was giving them, the label stuck and today we know these artists as Fauvist!
Most Fauvism artworks rarely blend the color to make it pop. With the use of color theory, Fauvism
artist seem to understand colors to make their work in brighter colors. Fauvist ditched the realistic
values and showed the colors they wanted to show and not the ones you see in nature. Colors no longer
have a representational purpose.
Famous Fauvists
Henri Matisse (1869–1854) - Henri Matisse was one of the undisputed masters of 20th century art.
Matisse is commonly regarded, along with Picasso and Marcel Duchamp because of their artworks.
Although he was initially labeled a Fauve (wild beast). Some of his works are Le Bonheur de Vivre (The
Joy of Life) (1909-1910), The Dance (1910), Portrait of Madame Matisse (The green line) (1905), The
Open Window (1905), Woman with a Hat (1905), The Moulade (1905), Parrot Tulips II (1905), and Olive
Trees at Collioure (1906).
Andre Derain (1880-1954) - Derain was one of the founders of the Fauve artistic movement along with
Matisse. His works are characterized by dense, vibrant brushworks that attract the viewer's attention as
much as the subject itself. Some of his works are Chasing Cross bridge, London (1905), The Bridge, View
on the River (1905), Boats at Collioure (1905), Estaque (1905), Effect of Sun on the Water (1906), and
Palace of Westminster (1906).
Maurice Vlaminck (1876-1958) - Vlaminck continued the approach established by the Impressionists of
rejecting conventional themes and instead representing scenes from everyday life. Some of his works
are Sailboats at Chatou (1905), The Orchard (1905), and Barges at Chatou (1905), The River Seine at
Chatou (1906), Woman with a Dog (1906), and Woman with a Dog (1906).
EXPRESSIONISM
Expressionism is mainly to convey emotion and meaning rather than reality, Expressionist art was
therefore not defined by a set of aesthetic principles, but rather as a tool of expression and societal
commentary.
‘‘Expression over impression''
Art was now meant to come forth from within the artist, the character of the artist's feelings rather than
an analysis of the composition. The urban world of the early-20th century, Expressionist artists
developed a powerful mode of social criticism in their serpentine figural renderings and bold colors.
Famous Expressionist
Edvard Munch (1863-1944) - Edvard Munch is regarded as one of the most significant and influential
artists of modernism. He was part of the Symbolist movement and pioneered expressionist painting. The
Scream (1893) by Edvard Munch is one of the most iconic modern art pieces in the world. It expresses
the emotion of a person alone in their anguish and anxiety after being left behind by two of his friends,
who appear in the background of the piece. His other fauvism paintings: The Voice [Die Stemme] (1893),
Madonna (1895), and The Sick Child (1907).
Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) - During his early years he painted three types of subjects—still life,
landscape, and figure—all, He left Paris in February 1888 for Arles, in southeastern France. His 10-year
artistic career produced more than 800 paintings and 700 drawings, of which he sold only one in his
lifetime.
The Starry Night (1889), the painting has curving, swirling lines of hills, mountains, and sky, the brilliantly
contrasting blues and yellows, the large, flame-like cypress trees, and the thickly layered brushstrokes of
Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night. His other fauvism paintings: Vase with Fifteen Flowers (1888), The
Potato Eaters (1885), and Café Terrace at Night (1888).
CUBISM
Cubism is an early-20th-century avant-garde art movement that revolutionized European painting and
sculpture, and inspired related movements in music, literature, and architecture. The 20th century's
most significant art movement, known as cubism, was primarily developed in Paris between 1907 and
1914 by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque.
Cubism was the representation of Three-dimensional form in the late works of Paul Cézanne. Cézanne’s
paintings had been held at the Salon d’Automne of 1904, current works were displayed at the 1905 and
1906 Salon d’ Automne, followed by two commemorative retrospectives after his death in 1907.
Phases of Cubism
Phases of Cubism can be seen to have developed in two distinct phases: the initial and more austere
analytical cubism, and a later phase of cubism known as synthetic cubism.

During this period, the work of Picasso and Braque became so similar that their paintings often are
almost indistinguishable. The Spanish painter Juan Gris and French artist Jean Metzinger were also
associated with Analytical Cubism. This form of Cubism analyzed the use of rudimentary shapes and
overlapping planes to depict the separate forms of the subjects in a painting. It refers to real objects in
terms of identifiable details that become—through repetitive use—signs or clues that indicate the idea
of the object.
It is considered to be a more structured and monochromatic approach than that of Synthetic Cubism.
This is the period that quickly followed and replaced it and was also developed by the artistic duo.
Synthetic Cubism is a period in the Cubism art movement that lasted from 1912 until 1914. Synthetic
Cubism is a term commonly used by art historians to describe the second phase of the Cubist
movement.
The word ‘synthetic’ was a reference to the incorporation of man-made materials such as newspaper,
patterned paper, and other textured surfaces.
In fact, the two leading Cubist pioneers, Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, are often credited with
inventing the art of collage (or papier colle) at this phase of their careers. This idea that items from the
real world could be cut up and stuck into artworks rather than depicted with a brush was entirely new.
Famous Cubists
Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) - Picasso's life and artistic career were greatly influenced by the history and
culture of his native country. Early in his career, Picasso was primarily a post-impressionist artist, and
traces of this influence may be seen in some of his later works. Some of his works are Portrait of
Ambroise Vollard Starry Night (1909 -1910), Guernica (1937), and The Weeping Woman (1937).
Georges Braque (1882–1963) - Braque is one of the most renowned artists of the 20th Century; Braque
was heavily influenced by the conventional French styles during much of his youth. He initially
encountered Picasso at his first solo exhibition in 1908. Some of his works are Violin and Jug (1910), The
Portuguese (1911), and Fruit Dish and Glass (1912).
Juan Gris (1887–1927) - Juan Gris was a little younger than his peers within the Cubism art movement.
Originally, Gris planned a career doing mechanical drawings for growing industries and spent three years
studying at the Escuela de Artes y Manufacturas in Madrid. Some of his works are Portrait of Pablo
Picasso (1912) and Violin and Checkerboard (1913).
Paul Klee (1878–1940) - Paul Klee was a Swiss-German artist with a distinct artistic style. Taking
influence from Cubism, Expressionism, and Surrealism, Klee went on to explore color theory extensively.
Some of his works are Die Vase (1938) and Senecio (1922).
Albert Gleizes (1881–1953) - Albert Gleizes is a French artist proclaimed himself to be the founder of the
Cubism art movement. After spending some time in the military until 1905, Gleizes discovered painting
and was soon exhibiting his art. Some of his works are La Femme aux Phlox (1910) and Les Joueurs de
Football (1912).
Paul Cézanne (1839–1906) - Paul Cézanne is a well- known artist who is recognized as the father of
modernism, despite dying at the start of the cubism art movement. Producing his first paintings in 1861,
Cézanne began as a post-impressionist artist. Some of his works are Boy in a Red Vest (1888-1890) and
The Large Bathers (1900-1906).
FUTURISM
Futurism was an early 20th-century Italian art movement that sought to convey in art the vitality and
dynamism of the modern world. The latest advances in science and philosophy were well-known to
futurists.
In 1908, the Italian poet Filippo Tommaso Marinetti swerved to miss a cyclist and crashed his car in a
ditch. Italian Futurism by Luigi Russolo, Carlo Carrà, Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, Umberto Boccioni and
Gino Severini in front of Le Figaro, Paris in Feb 9, 1912.
The young artists Umberto Boccioni, Carlo Carrà and Luigi Russolo had joined Marinetti’s movement.
The Manifesto of Futurist Painters was written by the three artists in response to their suggestion that
Futurism, a movement that would triumph over tradition and nostalgia.
Famous Futurists
Umberto Boccioni (1882–1916) - One of the most prominent and influential artists among the Italian
Futurists, an art movement that emerged in the years before the First World War. At the young age of
33, he passed away while serving as a volunteer in the Italian army, making him a symbol of the
Futurists' celebration of the machine and the brutally destructive force of modernity. One of his famous
works is Unique Forms of Continuity in Space (1913).
Gino Severini (1883–1966) - Severini was one of the most progressive of all the twentieth-century Italian
artists. An early and important figure of the Futurist movement, He switched his attention to Neo-
Classicism after becoming weary of Futurism. One of his famous works is Dancer at Pigalle (1912).
Carlo Carrà (1881–1966) - Carrà was one of the driving forces behind the rise of the Italian Futurists,
both through his contribution as an artist, and as co- author/author of two of the movement's most
important manifestos. One of his famous works is The Funeral of the Anarchist Galli (1910–1911).
Giacomo Balla (1871–1958) - Giacomo Balla was an Italian painter, art teacher and poet best known as a
key proponent of Futurism. In his paintings he depicted light, movement, and speed. He was concerned
with expressing movement in his works, but unlike other

leading futurists he was not interested in machines or violence with his works tending towards the witty
and whimsical. One of his famous works is Dynamism of a Dog on a Leash (1912).
"Creativity is intelligence having fun." - Albert Einstein