Earliest Artwork
Some of the artists under consideration in this curriculum were born or worked in geographic areas that were once part of Russia and are now independent countries (Ukraine and Georgia, for example) . Some of the pieces were produced during the period of S
Art History
is closely related to other disciplines such as anthropology, history, and sociology . In addition, art history sometimes overlaps with the fields of: aesthet- ics, or the philosophical inquiry into the nature and expression of beauty; and art criticism,
Art stuff that doesn't seem like art
Art historians also con- sider objects that might not be considered art by their intended audience, including mass-produced posters and advertisements and even the design of ordinary household items like telephones, forks, and the living room sofa .
Formal Analysis
Formal analysis focuses on the visual qualities of the work of art itself . A basic assumption of formal analysis is that the art- ist makes decisions related to the visual aspects of the artwork that can reveal to us something about mean- ing . From this
Contextual Analysis
Contextual analysis involves looking outside of the work of art in order to determine its meaning . This involves examining not only the context in which the work was created, but also later contexts in which the work was and continues to be consumed . Co
Ancient Civilizations
art historians use the best available information to date works of art from the distant past . Estimated dates are frequently contested and sometimes revised as new information becomes available. For example the Stone Henge is a mystery of who did it and
Chauvet Cave
First russian art is dated (c . 15,000-10,000 b.c.e.)The art in these caves takes the form of large colored drawings of animals such as horses, bears, lions, bison, and mammoths, and the paintings include several outlines of human hand.
Old Stone age art
are small stone female figures that have exaggerated bellies, breasts, and pubic areas . The best known of these figures is the Venus (or Woman) of Willendorf (c . 28,000-25,000 b.c.e.), which is about four and one-eighth inches high . In contrast to the
Art Of the middle Stone Age
(Mesolithic Period) the climate warmed, and a culture developed that pro- duced art similar in some ways to the cave paintings of the Paleolithic Period, is generally estimated that they were created from around 7000 b.c.e. until 4000 b.c.e. What sets the
ART OF THE NEW STONE AGE
The art forms most often linked with the New Stone Age (Neolithic Period) are rings or rows of rough-hewn stones located in Western Europe . These formations have been dated as early as 4000 b.c.e The stones used were often exceedingly large�as much as se
ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIAN ART
The civilizations that arose in Mesopotamia in the valley between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers devel- oped writing and arts; the history of this ancient region is one of successive conquest and destruction.Mesopotamia created impressive sculptures and
PERSIAN ART
The Persian Empire (c . 538 b.c.e.-330 b.c.e.) flourished in what is present-day Iran . The Persians were notable for their impressive architectural achievements, the most important of which was the palace at Persepolis, which was constructed of stone, br
ANCIENT EGYPTIAN ART
Ancient Egyptian civilization is generally dated from c . 3500 b.c.e., beginning with the predynastic period, through 332 b.c.e., when Egypt was conquered by Alexander the Great . Recognizable works include the great monuments of ancient Egypt: the Sphinx
NUBIAN ART
The kingdom of Nubia lay to the south of Egypt and covered a large area of Africa . As contemporary histo- rians become increasingly interested in revising and expanding art history, more knowledge about this great African civilization is being uncovered
CYCLADIC ART
The Aegean island cultures were very important as pre- cursors of the Greeks in terms of art production . Three major cultures flourished on the islands in the Aegean Sea, on Crete, and along the Aegean coast. The earliest culture was the Cycladic culture
MINOAN ART
The Minoan culture centered around the city of Knossos on Crete, where the legend of the Minotaur� the creature believed to be half man and half bull who devoured those who entered his maze�is supposed to have taken place . The maze was actually the royal
MYCENAEAN ART
The Mycenaean culture was centered around the city of Mycenae on the Greek mainland . The Mycenaeans built elaborate tombs, and their burial practices allowed for a large number of objects to be preserved . The objects that are best known are made of gold