LECTURE 1.

INTRODUCTION TO ART
APPRECIATION Immanuel Kant
 was a German, Enlightenment
Importance of Art Appreciation and Philosopher
Its relevance to Philosophy  In 1763, he wrote a treatise on
Aesthetics entitled, Observation on
Art - is derived from Latin word “ars” the Feelings of the Beautiful and
meaning ability or skill. the Sublime.
In this sense, art is used in many varied  his main interest was not art itself but
ways. It embraces the visual arts, on beauty.
literature, music, and dance.
Philosophy - comes from the Greek Subjective and Universal Taste
words; philo- meaning “love”, and – According to Kant
sophia which means “wisdom”, and it SUBJECTIVE TASTE
literally defined as “the love of wisdom”. It does not focus on the properties of the
objects itself but rather on the pleasure
Art as viewed by Philosophy one experiences as he responds to it.
Plato UNIVERSAL TASTE
 a philosopher of Ancient Greece Is non-aesthetic and does not consider
 He was known for his Dialogues that the beauty of the work or the mastery of
includes his equally famous teacher. the artist, but rather the artwork is
Socrates appreciated for what it is.
 He was said to have loved and hated
the arts at the same timе
Humanities is derived from the Latin
Plato presented 2 ideas: word humanus, which means human,
Art is limitation refined, and cultured. The humanities
Plato explained that the things in this are the studies about human culture,
world are only copies of the original such as literature, philosophy, visual
things which turn is imitations of the arts, and history.
Forms
Art is dangerous Significance of Art and Humanities:
According to Plato, art has power to stir  Signify existence
emotions  Give satisfaction
 Integrates areas of knowledge
Aristotle  Extends one’s consciousness
 he was a famous philosopher of  Cultural Diversity
Ancient Greece he was a student of
Plato 4 E’s in Learning Art and Humanities
 he distinguished what is good and 1. Explore – Sense of Discpvery
what is beautiful 2. Exposure - Environment
3. Experience – Main Learning
Aristotle considered art as imitation or Process
represent of nature. 4. Enjoyment – Pleasure and
His emphasis was on poetry. He stated happiness
that poetry was more philosophic and
serious than philosophy itself. What is Appreciation?
POETS IMITATE 3 THINGS:  Recognition of good qualities of
1. Things and events which have been person or something.
or still there.  A full understanding of a situation.
2. Things which are said to be seen and Synonyms. Respect, Esteem,
probably; and Comprehension
3. Things which essentially are.
What is Art Appreciation? Eurasia. The exact purpose of the
 Recognition of the good qualities and Paleolithic cave paintings in not known.
understanding of art.
 Acquiring knowledge leads to EXAMPLE OF CAVE PAINTINGS
appreciation. Knowing vocabulary,  Lascaux Cave is a Paleolithic cave
concepts, themes, processes situated in southwestern France,
materials. some of the most famous examples
 Knowing Context of prehistoric cave paintings.
 Does not require liking or loving  MAROS CAVE PAINTING

Art appreciation helps open up the  There are two paintings which
mindset of the people, by listening to believed that the earliest figurative
different perspective and views as well paintings found in Europe. The
as interpretations of the art, it earliest figurative paintings in Europe
encourages thoughtful conversation and date back to the Aurignacian period,
the understanding that there is more approximately 30,000 to 32,000 years
than one approach to everything. ago, and are found in the Chauvet
Cave in France, and in the
Purpose of art appreciation Coliboaia Cave in Romania.
Art appreciation encompasses so much
more than just looking at a piece of art  Red hand stencil cave painting -
or learning about the artist. The oldest known cave painting is a
red hand stencil in Maltravieso cave,
ART APPRECIATION AS A WAY OF Caceres, Spain and was said to be
LIFE made by a Neanderthal.
 "The role of art as a creative work is  Sulawesi Cave painting - However,
to depict the world in a completely more recently, in 2021, cave art of a
different light and perspective" pig found in an Indonesian island,
– Jean-Paul Sartre and dated to over 45,500 years, has
 Each artwork beholds beauty in its been reported.
own kind, the kind that the artist sees
and wants the viewers to perceive. Cave Paintings seen in Asia, Europe,
North and South America
LECTURE 1.2. ART HISTORY The Padah-Lin Caves of Burma
contain 11,000-year-old paintings and
ART HISTORY many rock tools. In the Philippines at
Art history, also called art Tabon Caves the oldest artwork may be
historiography, is the historical study of a relief of shark above the cave
the visual arts, being concerned with entrance.
identifying, classifying, describing,
evaluating, interpreting and LESSON 1.3. CREATIVITY VS.
understanding the art products and IMAGINATION
historic development of the fields of
painting, sculpture, architecture, the Know that…….
decorative arts, drawing, printmaking, • It takes an artist to make art. One
photography, etc. may perceive beauty on a daily basis.
• However, not every beautiful thing
CAVE PAINTINGS that can be seen or experienced may
Cave paintings are also known as truly be called a work of art.
“parietal art.” They are painted • Not everyone can be considered an
drawings on cave walls or ceilings, artist, but all are spectators of art.
mainly of prehistoric origin, dated to • Art is a product of man’s creativity,
some 40,000 years ago (38,000 BCE) in imagination, and expression.
 many types of personal function, and
CREATIVITY is doing something they are subjective and will, therefore,
meaningful with your imagination. It vary from person to person.
allows us to do something meaningful Social Function
with our imaginations. Social behavior is influenced by many
IMAGINATION is thinking of something - works of art. This is manifested by the
whether it is an object, place, time, etc., way we think, feel, and move or decide.
that is not present. It allows us to think
of things that are not real or around us Physical Function
at any given time Whenever art has function, this function
influences and often determines the
 Vincent Van Gogh, Starry Night, form. The fact is that, if an object is
1889. Oil on Canvas. Museum of made for a certain function, it should be
Modern Art, New York. made in such a way that it can perform
 Pablo Picasso, Les Demoiselle de its function.
Avignon, 1907. Oil Painting.
Museum of Modern Art, New York. LESSON 3. ART HISTORY AND
 Leonardo da Vinci, Mona Lisa. C DEVELOPMENT
1503-1506. Oil Painting. Louvre
Museum, Paris.  Ancient Civilization
 The Egyptian Art
LESSON 2. ASSUMPTION OF ARTS  The Ancient Greek Art
 The Romans
BASIC ASSUMPTION OF ARTS Art and
 Art is not nature Architecture
 Art is Universal
 Art involved experience ANCIENT CIVILIZATION
Ancient Civilization first started in
Art is universal Mesopotamia. As the region attained its
 Literally art can be found in every development, other city states existed.
corner of the world. Art is in Famous of which is the Sumerian city-
everywhere and it is embedded into state. Religious buildings and temples
the way of life of the people. were established, and their cultural arts
Exclusivity is out of bounds when we flourished.
speak of arts because it is for  One of the most famous works
everyone. from ancient Mesopotamia is the
Art is not nature Code of Hammurabi.
 Art is not nature; nature is not art. Art The Hammurabi code of laws, a
is made by man and nature by God. collection of 282 rules, established
However, nature can be enhanced by standards for commercial interactions
man. The enhanced beauty and and set fines and punishments to meet
artistry of nature, then, can be the requirements of justice.
classified as an art. Hammurabi’s Code was carved onto a
Art involved experience massive, finger-shaped black stone
 In order to experience something, stele (pillar) that was looted by invaders
you have to make use of your five and finally rediscovered in 1901, in
senses. Hence, there can never be Sumerian written language called
an appreciation of art without having cuneiform.
experienced it.

Personal Function
The personal functions of art are often
the most difficult to explain. There are
 The Valley of the Kings is one of the
most famous archaeological sites in
LESSON 3.1. THE EGYPTIAN ART the world. This is a royal burial
For more than 2,000 years, Egypt was ground, with exquisitely decorated
one of the richest and most civilized tombs for the pharaohs who ruled
lands in the ancient world. In particular, Egypt between 1539 and 1075 BC.
the ruins of tombs and temples have There are over 60 tombs in this small
provided a valuable record of Egyptian area, although only a handful are
Life. open to public.
 Deir el-Bahri
THE EGYPTIAN HISTORY The most beautiful temple is Deir el-
Egyptian history is usually divided into Bahri. It was built about 1470 by the
different dynasties. The first ruler was famous Queen Hatshepsut. A series
King Menes also called King Narmer, of terraces was surrounded by
who united Egypt under one government colonnades and connected by ramps.
and founded the capital city of Memphis. This temple was built entirely of fine
limestone.
 In the Narmer palatte the human form  King Ramses II Temple
is portrayed in a way that became In contrast, the nearby temple of
standard in Egyptian art. The head Ramses II was built entirely of
and legs are shown from the side, sandstone – a coarse material that is
while the eye and shoulders are easy to work with.
shows from the front.
 Other conventions make statues of Lesson 3.2 The Ancient
males darker than females ones. Greek Art
Very conventionalized portrait statues Ancient Greek art includes much
appear from as early as Dynasty II. pottery, sculpture as well as
 The first great period of Egyptian architecture.
civilization, called the Old Kingdom,
began during the rule of King Joser.  Greek sculpture is known for the
The advances of the period were due contrapposto standing of the figures.
mainly to Imhotep, the king’s first Contrapposto is an Italian term that
minister. means "counterpoise.”
 The first known statue to use
 THE STEP PYRAMID contrapposto is Kritios Boy, c. 480
was the first stone building in history BC, so called because it was once
and the first of the many pyramids to attributed to the sculptor Kritios.
appear during the next 1,000 years.  The most prestigious form of Ancient
 The Great Pyramid of Giza Greek painting was panel painting, a
also known as the Pyramid of Khufu painting made on a flat panel made of
or the Pyramid of Cheops is the wood, either a single piece, or a
oldest and largest of the three number of pieces joined together.
pyramids complex bordering what is  Classical Greek pottery was perhaps
now El Giza, Egypt. the most utilitarian of the era’s art
 One of the important changes in forms. People offered small terra
architecture was the disappearance cotta figurines as gifts to gods and
of the pyramid. The pyramids had goddesses, buried them with the
failed to protect the royal burial from dead and gave them to their children
robbery. Kings and queens were now as toys.
buried in tombs in the Valley of the
Kings in Thebes.  Sculpture and Art in Ancient
 Tombs in the Valley of the Kings Greece
replicas
 Earlier statues of people had
looked awkward and fake, but by
the classical period they looked
natural, almost at ease. They even
had allistic looking facial Lesson 3.4. Chinese Art and
expressions. Paintings
 Greek Bronze Sculpture  China has one of the oldest
 Greek Gods (Medussa, Zeus, continuous artistic traditions in the
Poseidon) world. The beginnings of Chinese art
 Terra cotta figurines can be traced to 5,000 B.C., when
 Greek Paintings Stone Age people made decorated
objects of bone, stone and pottery.
 Stone Age people made decorated
Lesson 3.3. The Romans Art and objects of bone, stone and pottery.
Architecture
The Romans wanted their art and
architecture to be useful. They planned  Gu Kaizhi
their cities and built bridges, aqueducts, was an eccentric courtier who is most
public baths and market places, famous as a painter of portraits and
apartment, houses and harbors. figure subjects and as a poet. Gu
 Roman Bridges Kaizhi's art is known today from both
 ROMAN ARENA’S written records and paintings.
 ROMAN AQUEDUCTS  Admonitions of the Court
 Baths of Caracalla instructress, detail of an ink and
 Roman Architecture colour on silk hand scroll, attributed
 The Tomb of Caecilia Metelia to Gu Kaizhi.
is an ancient Roman structure that  Qi Baishi
was constructed at the end of the is the most beloved modern painter.
Roman structure that was He began his life as a poor peasant
constructed at the end of the Roman and became great master. His most
republican period. famous works depict flower and small
 Roman Sculpture animals.
In portraying their gods, the Greeks
had been influenced by their ideas of  The Chinese were masters of bronze,
form and beauty. Roman sculpture is jade and ceramics. Decorative
greatly influenced by the Greeks. But objects made of these materials are
the Romans showed their skill and among China’s greatest contributions
originality in their portraits. to world art.
 Statue of Jupiter - King of the  Bronze metal work is the greatest art
Gods form of ancient China. The greatest
 Roman River God -Arno bronze age of China lasted from the
 Neptune - God of the Sea Shang (1523-1000’s B.C.) to the Han
Dynasty.
Painting  Jade – is a hard, beautiful stone that
Often these murals were used to make was highly valued by the Chinese.
the room seem larger, by giving illusion
of depth, or to create a pastoral
landscape where there was no window
or view.
  Is a genre of Japanese art
which flourished from the 17th
through 19th centuries. Its artists
produced woodblock prints and
paintings of such subject as
Lesson 3.5 Japanese Art Paintings female beauties; kabuki actors
In traditional Japan, no distinction was and sumo wrestlers; scenes
made between the fine arts of painting from history and folk tales.
and sculpture and the decorative arts-  By combining “uki” for sadness
ceramics, lacquer, textiles and the like. and “yo” for life, the word ukiyo-
All were thought to be equally valid e originally reflected the
forms of artistic expression Buddhist concept of life as a
. transitory illusion, involving a
 Most sculptures made before the cycle of birth, suffering death
mid-1800’s were objects of worship and re-birth.
displayed in temple and shrines.  The earliest prints were simple
Statues of the God’s of Buddhism black and white prints taken
and of the native Shinto religion were form a single block. Sometimes
most common these prints were colored by
 Figure - The earliest sculptures were hand, but this process was
made of clay. Small clay figurines expensive.
resembling humans and animals
have been found in Neolithic sites
throughout the country.
 Dogū are small humanoid and animal
figurines made during the later part of
the Jōmon period of prehistoric
Japan.
 The introduction of Buddhism to
Japan in the 500’s influenced
sculpture technique, styles and
subjects.
 The 500’s to the 700’s is known as
the classical era of Buddhist
sculpture.
 Most statues of the 800’s were
carved of wood, a material that could
be readily obtained throughout
Japan.
 At first, statues were carved from
solid blocks of wood. But they were
heavy and tended to crack overtime.
 Jocho Busshi -His masterpiece is a
grateful figure of the Buddha Amida.
 The artists Katsushika Hokusai and
Utagawa Hiroshige (Masters of
Japanese landscape prints) Their
works generally, feature views of
scenic national landmarks as Mount
Fuji.

The Ukiyo-e