History and Philosophy of Modern Art
Art is a broad spectrum of human actions involving visual creativity to express physical perfection, beauty, emotion, intelligence, or creative ideas. Art includes music, literature, film, and sculpture. A form of art can be any form of human activity that exhibits the ability to interact with the surrounding in such a way as to create new and unique insights and responses. Some forms of art are better known as industries, while others include the fine arts, culture, and visual culture.
The history of visual art dates back to the earliest forms of art discovered in archeological excavations. The Egyptian Royal Sculpture of the New Kingdom and the Old Kingdom (c.2500 B.C.) were among the earliest visual arts. These fine pieces have been carved into stone; covered in gold leaf; or displayed on a wall in the royal courts.
Another period in history recognized as a period of great artistic achievement is classical art. Classical art grew out of the artistic efforts of ancient Greek and Roman culture. It is the product of refined craftsman who used the most advanced technology and mediums to portray stories and render images in their works. The most notable figures of classical art are Leonardo Da Vinci (Renaissance), Michelangelo (Renaissance), and Leonardo da Vinci (Renaissance). Other Italian artists who contributed to the genre are Sandro Botticelli (Renaissance), Michelangelo (Renaissance), Andrea Del Sarto (Italian renaissance), Jan Van Eyck (Dutch), and Hans Memling (German). Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is perhaps the most famous work of art from this period.
The field of non-representational art evolved in the latter part of the seventeenth century. It was a development arising from the developments in painting and printmaking processes, which eventually became known as the development of mass production. Non-representational art sought to capture the “form” in nature by means of highly abstract means, such as photography, ceramics, and furniture. By means of highly visual forms, the visual arts attempt to give a tangible form to abstract notions, ideas, or emotions.
The two major branches of the visual arts that emerged during the rise of the visual arts were the portraiture and the architectural arts. Portrait paintings were highly popular in the courts of the Renaissance. In this type of artwork, the artist would take the images of the subjects of battles or portraits of prominent personalities and reproduce them on his own wall. Portrait paintings gave a highly detailed representation of the subject, which enabled it to be hung in the home. The architectural art forms developed later on, as a result of the Gothic revival architecture.
Today, there are many different visual arts genres. These include photography, multimedia, performance art, and dance. Many modern artists to use photographs and the Internet to produce their artwork. Others still create their artworks on canvas. Some contemporary fine artists have produced pieces that are based on ancient mythology and religious stories, as well as on famous buildings and landmarks from around the world.