Arts and Humanities Page 1 of 7

Painting

LESSON PROPER

PAINTING is a visual art form that involves applying pigment to a surface, such as canvas, paper, or wood,
to create an expressive or representational image. This process includes a variety of techniques, tools, and
styles, often distinguished by the medium used (such as oil, acrylic, or watercolor) and the intended effect.
Painting encompasses a broad range of practices, from realistic depictions and abstraction to conceptual
and experimental approaches. As both a historical and contemporary art form, painting reflects cultural,
social, and personal contexts, serving as a means of communication, exploration, and aesthetic experience.

The Role of Painting in the Arts and Humanities

In the context of the Arts and Humanities, painting plays a significant role in several ways:

1. Historical Documentation: Painting provides visual records of historical events, societal

norms, and cultural practices. Through various periods and styles, it offers insight into the
conditions and beliefs of different eras, from ancient civilizations to modern times.
2. Cultural Expression: As a medium, painting allows artists to express cultural identities,
values, and narratives. It can reflect and shape cultural heritage, making it a crucial
element in the study of cultural history and identity.
3. Aesthetic Appreciation: Painting contributes to the development of aesthetic theory and
criticism. It engages viewers in an exploration of beauty, form, color, and composition,
stimulating discussions about artistic intent and viewer interpretation.
4. Philosophical Inquiry: Through painting, philosophical questions about reality,
perception, and representation are explored. Artists often use painting to investigate and
convey complex ideas and emotions, prompting viewers to reflect on existential and
metaphysical themes.
5. Social Commentary: Many paintings serve as a form of social critique, addressing issues
such as politics, inequality, and human rights. By examining these works, scholars can
gain insights into the socio-political context in which they were created.
6. Educational Tool: Painting is used in educational settings to teach various skills,
including visual analysis, creativity, and critical thinking. It also serves as a means of
encouraging personal expression and cultural understanding.
7. Interdisciplinary Connections: Painting intersects with other disciplines such as
literature, history, and psychology. It often complements and enhances the study of these
fields, offering a more comprehensive understanding of human experience and
expression.

Historical Development of Painting

1. Early Painting: Cave Paintings and Ancient Art

The earliest known paintings are found in caves, such as those in Lascaux and Chauvet in France.
These prehistoric artworks, dating from around 30,000 to 10,000 BCE, feature images of animals and human
figures and are believed to have had ritualistic or symbolic purposes.
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Painting
Early civilizations, including the Egyptians, Mesopotamians, and Greeks, produced paintings on
various surfaces like walls, ceramics, and papyrus. Egyptian art is known for its strict adherence to symbolic
and stylized representations. Greek art introduced more naturalistic approaches, eventually leading to the
development of classical styles.
2. Classical and Renaissance Painting
In ancient Greece and Rome, painting became more sophisticated, with an emphasis on realism,
proportion, and perspective. Notable examples include the frescoes from Pompeii and the works of artists
like Apelles and Zeuxis.
Beginning in the 14th century, the Renaissance marked a profound transformation in painting with
the rediscovery of linear perspective, anatomical accuracy, and naturalism. Key figures include Leonardo da
Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael. This period emphasized humanism and classical ideals, leading to
masterpieces such as "The Last Supper" and "The School of Athens."
3. Baroque to Romanticism
Emerging in the late 16th century, Baroque art is characterized by dramatic lighting, emotional
intensity, and dynamic compositions. Artists like Caravaggio, Rembrandt, and Velázquez are notable for their
use of chiaroscuro (contrast between light and dark) and their ability to convey movement and emotion.
In the 18th century, Rococo art, with its ornate and playful themes, contrasted with Neoclassicism's
return to classical simplicity and grandeur, inspired by archaeological discoveries and Enlightenment ideals.
Notable Rococo artists include François Boucher, while Jacques-Louis David is a key figure in Neoclassicism.
Beginning in the late 18th century, Romanticism focused on emotion, nature, and individualism.
Artists like Eugène Delacroix and J.M.W. Turner explored dramatic scenes, expressive color, and turbulent
compositions.
4. Modern and Contemporary Art Movements
The 19th and early 20th centuries saw a series of movements that challenged traditional aesthetics.
Impressionism, led by artists like Claude Monet and Edgar Degas, focused on light and color. Post-
Impressionism, including artists like Vincent van Gogh and Paul Cézanne, explored new ways of expression
and form.
Early 20th Century: Movements such as Cubism (Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque), Surrealism
(Salvador Dalí), and Expressionism (Edvard Munch) pushed the boundaries of representation and meaning.
From the mid-20th century to the present, contemporary art encompasses a wide range of styles and
approaches. Movements include Abstract Expressionism (Jackson Pollock), Pop Art (Andy Warhol), and
Conceptual Art (Sol LeWitt). Contemporary art often explores themes of identity, technology, and global
issues, employing diverse media and techniques.

Techniques and Mediums

MEDIUM - A medium refers to the materials that are used to create a work of art. The plural of medium is
media.

Types of Mediums
1. Oil Paint - Made from pigment suspended in oil (usually linseed oil), oil paint offers rich colors and a
slow drying time, allowing for extensive blending and reworking. Ideal for creating detailed textures and
subtle color transitions. Prominent in Renaissance and Baroque art, as well as in modern realism.
2. Watercolor - Consists of pigments suspended in a water-soluble binder. It is known for its transparency
and fluidity. Great for capturing delicate and spontaneous effects, such as light washes and fluid blending.
Common in landscapes and botanical illustrations.
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Painting
3. Acrylic Paint - Made from pigments suspended in an acrylic polymer emulsion. Acrylics are fast-drying
and versatile. Suitable for a variety of techniques, from thin washes to thick impasto layers. Can mimic
oil or watercolor effects and is popular in contemporary art.
4. Pastels - Composed of pure pigment and a binder, pastels come in soft, hard, or oil-based forms. They
offer vibrant colors and a tactile, blendable surface. Effective for creating textured, painterly effects and
subtle gradations. Often used for sketching and finishing details.
5. Pigment - Nearly all paint colors come from nature. Dirt, rock, plants, etc. are the raw material, which is
ground down into what is called a pigment.
6. Fresco - The word is Italian for "fresh". The technique involves painting with dry pigment on wet plaster.
Fresco linseed). Takes several days to dry.
7. Tempera - A water-based paint that may or may not be mixed with egg yolks (egg tempera).

Painting Techniques
1. Sfumato
An Italian term meaning "smoky" or "blurred." It involves blending colors and tones to create soft transitions
and a hazy effect, often used to depict atmospheric depth.
Notable Use: Leonardo da Vinci’s "Mona Lisa" is a classic example of sfumato, especially in the depiction
of the subject’s face.
2. Impasto
A technique involving the application of thick layers of paint to create a textured surface. The brushstrokes
or palette knife marks remain visible, adding a three-dimensional quality.
Notable Use: Vincent van Gogh’s "Starry Night" employs impasto to enhance the emotional and tactile
quality of the painting.

3. Glazing
Applying thin, transparent layers of paint over a dry base layer. This technique adds depth and luminosity to
the colors.
Notable Use: Used extensively in Renaissance painting to build up rich, complex colors and enhance the
realism of the subjects.
4. Wet-on-Wet
Painting on a wet surface with additional layers of wet paint. This technique allows for blending and mixing
of colors directly on the canvas.
Notable Use: Popularized by Bob Ross in his landscape paintings, this method is useful for creating smooth
transitions and spontaneous effects.

Understanding Composition
1. Balance
Description: The arrangement of visual elements to create a sense of equilibrium in a painting. Balance can
be symmetrical (even distribution) or asymmetrical (uneven but visually appealing).
Importance: Helps to create harmony and guides the viewer’s eye through the artwork.
2. Contrast
Description: The juxtaposition of different elements, such as light vs. dark or rough vs. smooth, to highlight
differences and create visual interest.
Importance: Enhances focal points and adds drama or emphasis to specific areas of the painting.
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Painting
3. Focal Point
Description: The area of a painting that draws the viewer’s attention first. It is often emphasized through color,
contrast, or composition.
Importance: Directs the viewer’s focus and conveys the main subject or theme of the artwork.

The Role of Light and Shadow in Painting

• Light: Defines form, creates mood, and adds dimensionality. Different types of lighting (e.g., natural,
artificial) can influence the color and texture of the painting.
• Shadow: Provides depth and realism, enhances contrast, and helps to delineate shapes and
objects. Shadows can be soft or harsh, depending on the light source and the painter’s intent.

Famous Painters and their Masterpiece

Leonardo Da Vinci (1452 – 1519)

Leonardo da Vinci, a central figure of the Renaissance, is celebrated

as one of the greatest artists of all time. His most famous work, the Mona
Lisa, painted between 1503 and 1519, is renowned for its enigmatic smile
and subtle background, as well as its unique use of a cottonwood panel
instead of canvas. This painting has remained largely intact for over six
centuries, adding to its legendary status. Da Vinci's contributions extend
beyond painting to include masterpieces like The Last Supper and The Lady
with an Ermine, as well as influential drawings and inventions. His work,
encompassing art and scientific studies, continues to inspire and fascinate.

Figure 2: The Lady with an Ermine

Source: https://news.artnet.com
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Painting
Vincent Van Gogh (1853 – 1890)

Vincent van Gogh, a Dutch post-impressionist

painter, is one of the most influential figures in Western art.
In just over a decade, he created around 2,100 artworks,
including notable pieces like Starry Night, Sunflowers, and
Cafe Terrace at Night. His work is known for its bold colors
and expressive brushwork, which helped lay the
groundwork for modern art. Starry Night, painted in 1889
during his stay at a mental asylum, is especially renowned
for its vivid portrayal of the night sky and has achieved
iconic status, appearing on various products worldwide.
Despite his profound impact on art, van Gogh was not
commercially successful during his lifetime and struggled
with mental illness and poverty. He died by suicide at 37,
with little recognition at the time. However, within a
Figure 3: Starry Night century, his work gained immense popularity and high
Source:vangoghgallery.com auction prices, cementing his place as a celebrated artist
in the public eye.

Pablo Picasso (1881 – 1973)

Pablo Picasso was a Spanish artist renowned for his profound impact on 20th-century art. Born to
an academic painter, Picasso began drawing at a young age and studied at La Lonja in Barcelona. He is
celebrated for co-founding Cubism, inventing constructed sculpture, and co-inventing collage, among other
contributions. Picasso's career spanned various styles, from his early Blue and Rose Periods to the
groundbreaking Les Demoiselles d’Avignon (1907) and the development of Cubism. He later explored
neoclassicism and figural representation. Throughout his prolific life, he produced an estimated 50,000
artworks, including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, drawings, prints, and more. Notable works include Les
Demoiselles d’Avignon and Guernica (1937), a powerful response to the Spanish Civil War's bombing of
Guernica. Picasso's innovative approaches earned him global fame and wealth. He continued to create art
until his death on April 8, 1973, in Mougins, France.

Claude Monet (1840 – 1926)

Oscar-Claude Monet was a French painter and a key founder of Impressionism. Born in Paris in
1840, his early years on the Normandy coast shaped his unique vision of nature, which became central to
his work. Monet gained early recognition with his caricatures and later, after serving in the military and
contracting typhoid, he pursued formal art training. Monet was a pivotal figure in the Impressionist movement,
known for capturing the changing effects of light and season through plein air painting. The term
“Impressionism” comes from his 1874 painting, Impression, Sunrise. He is famous for painting the same
scenes multiple times to document changes in light and atmosphere. In 1883, Monet settled in Giverny, where
he created a garden with lily ponds that inspired his most renowned works. He devoted the last 20 years of
his life to painting these water lilies. Monet died in 1926 at 86, having lived a long, influential career.
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Painting
Edvard Munch (1863 – 1944)

Edvard Munch was a Norwegian painter renowned for The

Scream, a powerful symbol of existential angst. His early life was marked
by illness and family trauma, which deeply influenced his art. Munch
studied at the Royal School of Art and Design in Oslo, where he
developed a unique style inspired by the nihilist Hans Jæger and later
by artists like Gauguin and Van Gogh.
The Scream reflects Munch’s experience of a profound sense
of dread, and he created several versions of it. Despite personal
struggles and fluctuating fame, Munch's work significantly impacted the
expressionist movement and remains a major icon in modern art.

Figure 4: The Scream

Source: https://www.edvardmunch.org/the-scream.jsp

Renowned Filipino painters known for their significant contributions to art:

1. Juan Luna (1857-1899)
Notable Works: Spoliarium, The Death of Cleopatra
Significance: A prominent figure in Philippine art
history, Juan Luna is celebrated for his historical and
genre paintings. Spoliarium, his most famous work,
won a gold medal at the 1884 Madrid Exposition and
depicts the dark and dramatic scene of defeated
gladiators being stripped of their armor.

Figure 5: The Spoliarium by Juan Luna

Source: https://www.artworkonly.com/famous-art-
pt2/spoliarium-by-juan-luna-famous-art

2. Fernando Amorsolo (1892-1972)

Notable Works: The First Mass at Limasawa, Rice Planting
Significance: Often referred to as the "Grand Old Man of
Philippine Art," Fernando Amorsolo is known for his
romanticized portrayals of rural Philippine landscapes and
historical scenes. His use of light and color, particularly in
his depictions of rural life, has had a lasting impact on
Philippine visual culture.
Figure 6: Planting Rice [Fernando Amorsolo]
Source: https://epa.culturalcenter.gov.ph/3/82/2272/
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3. Carlos "Botong" Francisco (1912-1969)
Notable Works: The Blood Compact, The Progress of
Medicine in the Philippines
Significance: Botong Francisco was a master of mural
painting and is recognized for his vibrant depictions of
Philippine history and culture. His murals often capture
significant historical events and traditional Filipino life.
Figure 7: The Blood Compact
Source: https://epa.culturalcenter.gov.ph/3/82/2182/

4. Benedicto Cabrera (b. 1942)

Notable Works: Sabel series, Ang Huling El Bimbo (1990)
Significance: Known as BenCab, he is celebrated for his contemporary art
and exploration of Philippine culture and social issues. His Sabel series,
which features a recurring character, reflects themes of poverty and
resilience.

Figure 8: Sabel by Benedicto Cabrera

Source:https://www.singulart.com/

5. Ang Kiukok (1931-2005)

Notable Works: The Fishermen, Crying Women
Significance: Ang Kiukok is recognized for his expressionist style, characterized by bold colors, geometric
forms, and intense emotional impact. His works often explore themes of struggle and human emotion.