Introduction to Visual Art The development of the visual medium.

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1 Introduction to Visual Art The development of the visual medium

2 The Purposes of Visual Art Ceremonial: ritual, celebration, art is created to support worship ceremonies. Artistic Expression: artwork to express or communicate emotions, ideas, feelings Narrative: art that tells a story, describes an experience, document an important or historical event Functional: artistic objects used in everyday life (pottery, quilts, baskets, etc…) Persuasive: artworks that promote ideas, philosophies, or products (ads, marketing, propaganda, ideology…)

3 Question for YOU: Considering all the purposes of visual art, what was the purpose/purposes behind the “Biography Collage” that we created? Write and explain your answer on a piece of paper. You have 5 minutes.

4 The Development of Visual Art: Ancient Approaches The earliest known sculpture dates from app. 30,000 to 15,000 BC. The first visual art consisted of lines scratched in damp clay…usually drawn of animals and in caves Ancient visual art developed in three stages: 1. Black outline drawings of animals 2. Addition of a second color to create sense of light/shade 3. Multi-colored paintings done in a realistic style. Ancient art shied away from 3-dimensionality…subjects in profile only.

5 Cave Painting Cave of Lascaux (in France) was discovered by a group of children…hundreds of cave paintings found They contain some of the best-known Upper Paleolithic art. These paintings are estimated to be 17,000 years old.

6 More Lascaux Cave Paintings

7 Sumer (Mesopotamia) Middle East (between Tigris and Euphrates…present day Iraq) Majority of surviving works prior to 3000BC are painted pots and stamp seals Showed scenes of sacrifice, hunting, battle…

8 Assyrian Art Northern people from Ashur on Tigris River Had great military power and ruled over the whole region for nearly 400 years, waging constant warfare (destroying conquered cities) Leader Sargon II in 722 BC ruled during peak of power The citadel of Sargon II has been excavated and showed poor construction methods… The art showed the “supernatural” powers of the king.

9 Citadel of Sargon II

10 Hebrews, Israelites, and Jews Wrote and collected books of Old Testament Began as a group in 1200 BC Great works : King Solomon’s Temple and The Hebrew Bible

11 The Hebrew Bible The word Bible comes from the Greek word for book. The earliest written Bible dates back to the days of King David in 10 th c BC. 24 books Psalm 120: “Out of the depths I cry to thee. O Lord! Lord, hear my voice! Let thy ears be attentive to the voice of My supplications!”

12 Pages from a Hebrew Bible

13 Art of Ancient Egypt We will study more in-depth next. Great works: Pyramids, Temple of Luxor, Sphinx, King Tut’s Tomb

14 Art of Ancient China People governed by social, family units/relationships Shang Dynasty (1400-1100 BC) began the history Shang Dynasty produced bronze weapons and ceremonial vessels. Stone sculpture in high-relief or in the round (mostly in Jade)….fish, owls, tigers, etc…

15 Art of Native America Pre-Columbian (before Columbus) Post-Columbian (after Columbus) Weaving, metalsmithing, pottery, architecture

16 Art of Ancient Greece We will study in greater detail later. Includes, architecture, sculpture