Art History

Art is a visual language; a system of rules; a profession or craft; skill applied to painting, sculpture, architecture, etc.; any of the products of this skill.

History is the record and interpretation of past human actions.

THE BASES OF ART HISTORY

1. Style is a characteristic manner of expression and content.

   Period style is the general characteristics common to much of the work from given period of time or cultural phase.
   Regional style is the manner of expression common in the work of artists working in the same country or area.
   Individual style - manner of expression used by a particular artist.

2. Iconography is the study of subject matter and symbolism.

3. Historical context is the record of events that affected the artist and the interpretation of his/her work.

   Provenance is the source or place of origin - the history - of a work of art

Please explore the various art history topics below:

What is Prehistoric Art?

The Ideal Human Figure?

Hokusai and Japanese Art

Duccio

Who was Leonardo da Vinci?

Theodore Gericault's Raft of the Medusa

Photography as Art

Jackson Pollock

The Artwork of Christo and Jeanne-Claude

Stay tuned for more art history pages -- there are so many great artists and styles for study, that I'll continue to add more all the time.

*Online Art Instructors* - Please feel free to link to any of my pages for your online discussions and other learning activities.

Recommended External Links

Art History Resourses on the Web
Christopher Witcombe presents a beautifully organized site that will assist even the newest of art enthusiasts. This site, maintained by an art scholar, organizes links to a large list of art history resources.

Time of Art History
The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents a chronological, geographical, and thematic exploration of the history of art from around the world, as illustrated especially by the museum's collection.

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