The Renaissance was a period of great intellectual and cultural awakening in Europe. It began in Italy in the 14th century and spread throughout the continent.
During this time, the world experienced a huge shift in thinking, with new ideas about art, science, religion, and philosophy. This revolution brought about an unprecedented level of creativity and innovation which had a lasting effect on modern art.
The Renaissance changed the way art was perceived and created. It marked a move away from the traditional medieval style characterized by flat, static images to more lifelike paintings with perspective and depth.
Artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo revolutionized painting by developing techniques such as chiaroscuro (light-dark contrast) to create dramatic scenes. This ushered in a new era of realism that has been carried through to modern times.
The Renaissance also saw a shift in the use of materials used for producing artworks. Prior to this period, most artwork was made using tempera paints made from pigments mixed with egg yolks or glue-based mediums like gesso or distemper.
During the Renaissance, artists began to experiment with oil paints which allowed for increased flexibility when creating works of art. This allowed for more detail and precision when creating pieces of artwork which has become integral to modern painting styles.
Perhaps one of the most influential aspects of the Renaissance was its focus on humanism – an emphasis on celebrating humanity rather than religion or mythology as seen during medieval times. This allowed artists to explore themes related to everyday life such as love, death, and beauty rather than religious figures or scenes from mythology – something that had been done for centuries before this period.
The Renaissance also encouraged artists to think outside of traditional conventions when creating works of art, allowing them to explore new techniques and concepts that would later become staples in modern art movements like Impressionism, Cubism, Expressionism, Surrealism etc..
Conclusion: The Renaissance had an enormous impact on modern art by introducing new techniques, materials and ideas which have shaped how we view and create art today. From its focus on humanism to its introduction of oil paints and experimentation with perspective – all these elements have gone on to influence various aspects of modern day artwork across numerous disciplines.