Timeline of Art History

~40,000 - 4000 B.C.

The origins of art can be traced to prehistoric times, early humans would use natural pigments to create crude imagery of animals and vegetation. some of the earliest examples of this work can be found in the Lascaux caves in France and are estimated to date back approximately 20,000 years.

30,000 B.C. - A.D. 400

Ancient art refers to work created in advanced civilizations such as ancient Egypt, Greece, and the Americas. The works varies between the societies that created them but many serve the same purpose, to tell stories, decorate items, or show social status. This might include hieroglyphics, decorative pottery or weapons or sculpture and carvings. Many works told the story of rulers, gods or goddesses.

A.D. 500 - 1400

The middle ages represented a backwards step in society after the fall of the roman empire, much of the artwork created at the beginning of this era shows this darkness with brutal imagery and bleak landscapes. Later much of the work produced served religion and the church, items such as decorative altar pieces, paintings of religious scenes and illuminated manuscripts are all good examples of medieval works. Later into the medieval period more elaborate churches and cathedrals were produced in a Gothic style, an example of this being the Notre Dame in Paris

1400 - 1600

The Renaissance represented the movement of art towards individualism, the idea that man is independent and self-reliant. Art produced in this period includes sculpture, painting and decorative items with a focus on realism, detail and the study of the human body. Artists used intense light and shade and linear perspective to create depth in their works, they would often complete detailed studies of subjects before beginning a painting, for example drawing and redrawing the hands until they were represented perfectly. Some prominent artists of this period are Michelangelo, da Vinci, Donatello and Fillipo Brunelleschi.

1527 - 1580

Artists took the ideals of the late renaissance but would focus on style and technique rather than subject matter. Figures were often portrayed gracefully and had stylized features and an attention to detail creating more complex compositions. This moved away from the Renaissances harmonious composition and linear perspective. Some of the most well known artists of this time are Georgio Vasari, Francesco Salviati, and Bronzino.

1600 - 1750

This period can be categorized by complex and ornate visuals, there is an emphasis on grandeur and richness in this style of art work that also includes reference to broadening human intellect and knowledge of the world. Paintings were highly dramatic and often used an intense contrast and rich colour palette, as seen in works by Caravaggio and Re

1750 - 1850

During this time period people were discovering archaeological ruins of ancient civilisations such as the Greeks, which ignited in society a fascination with all thing classical. In the arts this saw a new interest in classical values within art work such as proportion, harmony and simplicity. The artworks as well as looking to the past included modern references such as the painting by Jacques-Louis David, Napoleon Crossing the Alps. This painting depicts a modern subject with elements of classical style.

1780 - 1850

The Romantic period encompasses painting, literature, poetry and music. Within these disciplines the harmony and rationality seen in Classical and Neoclassical art instead focusing on the individual and the imagination that can be captured in the arts. Another ideal of this period was appreciation of nature, with many artists leaving the studio in favour of working outside or en plein air. Artists wanted to capture passion and emotion within their works, some of the leading artists of this time include Henri Fuseli, and William Blake

1848 - 1900

Realism began with the anti-Romantic movement in Germany, and the invention of photography. Artists were interested in capturing everyday life as realistically as possible, the attention to detail and accuracy is important in art produced during this movement. One of its most influential artists is Gustave Courbet, who was committed to painting only what he could see.

1890 - 1910

Art Nouveau translates to new art, is a movement which wanted to be free from the artistic styles that came before it. The style heavily influenced graphic design and illustration, many artist would work in a variety of mediums including jewellery making, architecture and graphics. one of the best known artists from this period is Alphonse Mucha, who created dramatic posters of women.

1865 - 1885

Impressionist painters wanted to capture the immediate feeling of a moment and often showed modern life as their subjects, rather than historical and mythological events. Working with short brushstrokes and in an unfinished almost sketch-like style to capture dreamlike images. Claude Monet was one of the first artists to work in this style and begin the impressionist movement.

1885 - 1910

Post-Impressionist painters did not work as a group like artists did in some other movements, although they did share some of the same ideals. They worked to express personal meanings rather than to capture an image of the outside world, sometimes through symbolism or abstracted forms. Artists from this period include Georges Seurat, well known for using pointillism and Van Gogh Who used semi-abstracted imagery to convey personal expression.

1900 - 1935

Henri Matisse was one of the leaders of this movement which used bright colour, bold design and loose brushwork to convey its subjects. The movement built off the works made by artists like Seurat and Van Gogh and can be considered as one of the first avant-garde movements of the 20th century. One of the key aesthetics of this movement was the use of colour in a way that took it away from traditional descriptive and representational uses. By beginning to break away from those traditional artistic values this paved the way for movements like Expressionism and Cubism

1905 - 1920

Expressionist artists were responding to societal changes and their own emotions or anxieties through their art works, such as loss of spirituality and growing conflicts. Artists used distortion of form and bold colour to express their feelings. Many artists were also inspired by folk and tribal arts from different cultures and they would form groups where they could display and discuss their art and ideals as a collective.

1907 - 1914

Established by artists like Picasso and Georges Braques Cubism rejected the idea that art should be an accurate representation of nature. Forms and Figures were distorted, sometimes beyond recognition, by creating flat 2D surfaces, geometric shapes and by using multiple vantage points and angles to create one image.

1917 - 1950

Surrealism has its roots in the Dada art movement and the horrors of WWI , with works of art that were created to defy reason. Surrealists believed that a rationalist thought process suppressed imagination and were influenced by psychological theories and other manifestos of the time. Salvidor Dali would take inspiration from every day life and combine this with bizarre dream like imagery.

1940 - 1950

Born in post-war America painters and sculptors dismissed traditional methods of working creating abstract art which was spontaneous and improvised. Some of the work was so large that it could no longer be worked on an easel and artists would place their canvases on the walls or floor. Some of the most celebrated artists of the time were Jackson Pollock with his drip paintings and action art, and Mark Rothko, whose mammoth block colour paintings have a spiritual feel.

1950 - 1960

1950 - 1960

1960 - 1970

1960 - 1980

1970 - present