What Do I Need to Know About Art History?

Art|Art History

Art history is an expansive field of study that encompasses the history of visual art, from its origins in prehistory to the present day. It is also a broad discipline, encompassing many different forms of art and artistic styles.

As such, it can be difficult to cover all aspects of art history in one article. However, there are a few key points that everyone should know about art history.

One important concept to understand is the concept of stylistic periods. Art history is often divided up into various eras or stylistic periods, such as the Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassical and Impressionist periods.

These different periods are characterized by certain artistic styles and techniques that set them apart from one another. By understanding these different eras, it becomes easier to identify and appreciate works of art from each period.

Another crucial component of art history is understanding the various movements within each period. These movements are usually named after their most prominent artists or theorists and can often be seen as distinct sub-genres within a particular period. For example, within the Renaissance period, there were various movements such as Mannerism, Humanism and Baroque.

Finally, one should also have an understanding of the major artists and theorists from each period. While it isn’t necessary to know every artist or theorist from each era in detail, having a basic understanding of some of the most influential figures can help deepen one’s appreciation for certain works of art.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, art history is a complex field that encompasses many different eras and styles. To fully understand its complexities requires an in-depth knowledge that goes beyond this article. However, by knowing key concepts such as stylistic periods, movements within those periods and major artists/theorists from each era can help anyone gain a better appreciation for all forms of visual art.