4 Art Appreciation Module 2 - Lesson 1

Module 2:
Western Art History

OVERVIEW
Human being has his own birthdate and birthplace,
and he preserves this until he gets old and dies. And so
memories partially depend on those who interact with
and partially depend on what he did while he lived. The
same holds true with the arts. Particular artwork has its
origin at a certain time and place, and may remain
forever memorable depending on the reasons behind it.
This module will provide you a historical
perspective in knowing the artworks from the
earliest to the contemporary time. You will have the
opportunity to trace, compare and contrast the
masterpieces of different artists from different times
and places.
MODULE 2 OBJECTIVES
• Discuss how art was used by prehistoric people to
depict everyday life and the importance of art to the
development of western culture;
• Differentiate the techniques used during the reign of
three kingdoms of early Egypt;
• Compare and contrast the artworks produced during
the different periods and art movements;
• Differentiate modern and contemporary art;
• Show the interrelation of modern and contemporary
art, and;
• Distinguish what inspired art classifications according
to different movements in contemporary time.
Course/Subject Materials
• Books
• Magazines
• Cameras
• Computers
• Samples of periodic art works
• Online sources
Activities/Assessments
• Read: Unit 2 of Art Appreciation by Caslib, BN., Garing, D. & Casaul, JA
: http://www.britannica.com/art/Futurism
: http://www.britannica.com/art/Western-music
: http://www.guggenheim.org/artwork/movement/Data
: http://mymodernmet.com/what-is-contemporary-art-definition/
: http://www.texasmonthly.com/travel/forty-years-of-the-cadillac-ranch/
• Create: Photo collage of modern and contemporary arts
• Watch: Film and Online information in Asian countries
• Reflect: Demarcation Line: What distinguishes modern and contemporary arts?
LESSON 1
ART IN EARLY CIVILIZATIONS
 Prehistoric art.
Stone Age is a term used to describe a period of
history where stones were used as tools for survival.
Though prehistoric humans would not necessarily
possess the complex rational capabilities to tell their
story through written records and accounts, some
artefacts in the form of cave paintings and sculptures
would serve as the ‘storytellers’.
In order to talk about prehistoric art, there is a
need to situate them within the context of the three
periods of the Stone Age culture (which roughly
span the 14,000-2,000 BCE): Paleolithic (the late
years of the Old Stone Age), Mesolithic (Middle
Stone Age) and Neolithic (New Stone Age).
The motives and reasons behind the
creation of ancient materials such as
sculptures, paintings and architectural
structures may not be clearly defined.
Nevertheless, the early people
produced such materials that reflect
their attitudes and belief systems on
spiritual, social, political and economic
matters.
Prehistoric art is a product of climate
change. As the climate got colder, part
of the early humans’ instinct is to look
for shelters that would provide them
with warmth. Caves became protective
havens for early humans and these
caves paved the way for the birth of
their first attempts to create art. One
cave painting can be traced back to
Lascaux, France.
Hall of Bulls
Venus of Willendorf
Stonehenge
Egyptian art.
For the Egyptians, art was something that can be
ascribed and associated with religion, hence religious
and spiritual. The Egyptian civilization is divided into
three parts: Old, Middle and New Kingdom. There may
have been differences in techniques used and styles
emphasized.
During the Old Kingdom, it was evident that
religion was bound to the afterlife. It was manifested
by the tombs they erected. The tombs, decorated by
everyday objects, served for keeping the bodies of
important people and shelter for the next journey.
One of the architectural wonders was the pyramids in
Giza which served as tombs since their main purpose
was to provide resting place for their pharaohs.
Narmer Palette (After King Narmer) was a cosmetic
pallet found in Egypt.
Middle Kingdom was featured by shift in political
hierarchy. Art has taken a back seat during this period.
There were some experimentations in terms of style.
Portrait sculptures and fresco paintings were freely drawn.
The art of New Kingdom had references from both of
the preceding Kingdoms. Monuments and sculptures
were still linked with death and reverence. They built
tombs and mortuary temples as sanctuary for the dead
and place of worship for the living. Probably, one of the
greatest discoveries was the tomb of King Tutankhamen.

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Module 2:

Western Art History

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