The History of Artistic Expression

Main Idea: Art shaped the Western World by shifting perceptions through different time periods, to help individuals understand the world around them.

1600s-1700sJoshua Reynolds & Jacques-Louis David

Both painters exaggerated the fact that art must be mastered. Suggesting an idea of classicism, both artists paint from models and real life experiences. Reynolds living by the rules that artists learn skills from the Greeks and Romans, and their sculpted masterpieces. He also says how art must be carefully constructed, never missing a step or working out of order. David suggested that painters must recreate what has already occurred in history. Both prove the idea that art is learned and people paint what they can see.

 

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Early 1800s

William Blake

Challenging classicism, Blake believed that art is an expression of the individual and their inner thoughts/emotions. Along with this, he believed in freedom for individuals to paint whatever comes to minds, and find their own beauty. Unlike the original idea of classicism, he suggested that art is unique and does not have to be copied from others in the world. Finally, Blake proved that art is not just learned, instead it is made from inspiration. These ideas shaped the Western world, to a more open-minded idea of art. Although individuals thought David's work was obscured in the past, he impacted modern art greatly, by introducing the idea of romanticism and following inspiration.

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Late 1800s

Gustave Courbet

Next, Courbet highlighted the idea of realism and impressionism in the 1800s. He explained how he only paints what he can see. Known for his most famous quote, "Show me an angel and I'll paint one", he suggested that real art can only be seen with the eyes. Similar to classicism in the 16/1700s, both question the fact that if it cannot be seen, how is it art? The difference between the two is that impressionist art is more focused on groups or nature, whereas classicism is more focused on portraits and individuals. Impressionism focuses on the small details, highlighting the parts of an image that are typically not the main focus of the painting. Courbet uses both realism and impressionism, to introduce new views and perspectives, building on classicism from the past. 

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Early 1900s

During this time modernism, surrealism, and dadaism were introduced. Each rebelling ideas, rules and following steps when making art. All three of these suggested that to understand pure art, individuals must let go of everything that the general population believed in; such as religion, to understand life in general. During this time, individuals were exposed to new ideas and concepts about their original understandings of life. This introduced major conflicting values in society, which caused the birth to a new idea of modernism. Art during this time shaped the individuals of the Western world, to believe in something other than a God or Gods having power over them. It allowed them to focus of their unconscious mind and find pure art within.

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During this time period, after the first and second World Wars, art was booming with abstract images expressing emotions and moods. Because of this, a concept of expressionism was introduced. This type of art was used to help individuals cope with their inner thoughts and emotions. This art allowed for people to express themselves through confusing abstract images. The idea of expressionism helped shape modern art and society today, by beginning a movement of the importance of self expression and emotions. This type of art is more prevalent in art today.

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Modern Art 

Today, art is a blend of each type from the past. Art is not defined. Instead it is: creation, emotions, portraits, nature, life, visions, and much more. Modern art introduces an idea of personal expression. An individual has the right to produce whatever image they wish to, without it being frowned upon for being different or out of the ordinary. An example of this could be graffiti, abstract images, and even just blank colours. Now, people find comfort or find themselves flooded with emotions through art. They are able to consider everything art, either classifying it as something beautiful or destructive. People nowadays often question, what is considered art. To me, art is anything. In the future I believe that art will continue to be anything, perhaps maybe even becoming focusing more on nature. I think that maybe nature will become a huge focus in the future because individuals will start to realize the destruction that humans have done upon it.

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References

"Nineteenth-Century French Realism." metmuseum.org. N.p., 2000. Web. 12 June      2015. <http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/rlsm/hd_rlsm.htm>. "Expressionism." artmovements.co.uk. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 June 2015.       <http://www.artmovements.co.uk/expressionism.htm>. "History of Art." Wikipedia. N.p., 18 May 2015. Web. 12 June 2015.       <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_art>. "Nineteenth-Century French Realism." metmuseum.org. N.p., 2000. Web. 12 June       2015. <http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/rlsm/hd_rlsm.htm>.