Art History Unit 1 || with 100% Errorless Answers.
"Academic Art" correct answers State-sanctioned art created in the "official" art style established
by the French Academy, which looks to the art of ancient Greece and Rome for inspiration.
Characterized by: 1. crisp, clear renderings with a convincing illusion of space. 2. statuesque,
naturalistic, Classically-proportioned figures. 3. rich colors (often mixed and arranged in precise
ratios to achieve 'perfect' color balance). 4. harmoniously ordered and balanced compositions.
History Painting correct answers Large-scale paintings depicting mythological or religious
subject matter, important political figures, or historical battle scenes, usually meant to impart
some sort of moral message (propaganda).
Avant-garde correct answers Radical artists who made intentional breaks with traditional styles
and techniques in order to push artistic thinking and challenge society. The goal was the
modernization of art itself, to match the dramatic modernization of society that'd taken place
since the Industrial Revolution.
Modernism correct answers Trend of challenging tradition and inventing new artistic styles and
methods.
Realism correct answers A movement in the mid-19th Century painting in which artists
committed themselves to depicting the observable realities of modern life. Realists believed that
art should express objective, empirical, observable truths, and in order to do this, the artist must
resist idealization and imagination and depict the world and its people honestly. They focused
their attention on subjects that'd long been deemed uninteresting or inappropriate for depiction as
"high art."
Impressionism correct answers A painting style in the late 19th Century in which artists attempt
to capture the spontaneous optical experience of a changing moment, as well as the quickening
pace and transience of modern life. Supposed to be like a snapshot of what the artist saw, the
subjective experience of seeing, and translating that vision onto the canvas (ignoring the "rules"
for how to make a painting). Characterized by: 1. The optical experience of light and atmosphere
(especially natural outdoor lighting). 2. A sense of motion and spontaneity. 3. Casual scenes of
modern city life and middle and working class leisure.
plein-air painting correct answers "in the open air," refers to the Impressionist characteristic of
taking the canvas outside and painting a scene on the spot (rather than making sketches and then
going back to the studio to work on the painting.) This was done in an attempt to spontaneously
capture the artist's optical experience of the scene in front of him.
ukiyo-e correct answers Japanese woodblock prints. Very influential to avant-garde artists.
Admired for their exotic "otherness" and organic linear qualities, flat forms and figures, as well
as their creatively cropped and poetically arranged compositions, which offered viewers a
""privileged point of view" of the subject.
, Japonisme correct answers Incorporation of Japanese-inspired stylistic elements into Western art.
Elements inspired by Japanese prints include: 1. Close-cropped, intimate composition (the
privileged point of view). 2. The abundance of decorative patterning on the floor, walls,
furnishings, etc. 3. Subtle flattening of the space of the image. 4. The domestic subject matter.
Post-Impressionism correct answers A term used by art historians to identify a broad reaction
against Impressionism in avant-garde painting of the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. There is
no one consistent visual style for Post-Impressionism. Thing in common was a desire for
"authenticity" in their art. They sought to express their own, unique inner visions, usually
through abstraction.
"authenticity" (in the context of modern art) correct answers The desire to create a new, original,
and personal artistic style.
abstraction correct answers Art that is unconcerned with the literal depiction of things from the
visible world. Abstract art often refers to or suggests objects or images from reality that have
been simplified, broken down, or otherwise altered for expressive purposes.
Neo-Impressionism (aka Divisionism) correct answers (Also called Divisionism or Pointillism)
the style invented by Georges Seurat in which the painting is composed of tiny dots of pure
colors that are meant to mix optically rather than being physically mixed on the palette or
canvas.
Expressionism correct answers Art in which conveying the intensity of an artist's feelings
overrides the need to remain truthful to the actual natural appearance of things.
"acid color scheme" correct answers Intensely contrasting colors next to each other in order to
create a garish visual effect.
Symbolism correct answers Diverse movement across 19th Century Europe in which artists
turned away from depictions of optical reality (the realm of Realists and Impressionists) and
inward to the depiction of their own fantasies, dreams, and psychological states of mind.
"the dismantling of space" correct answers Deconstruction of the idea and techniques for
rendering illusionistic space. Radically challenging traditional rules. The experimentation with
the formal and compositional elements of painting, and in particular a deconstruction of the idea
and techniques for rendering illusionistic space.
What is the Realist art movement all about? What kinds of subjects did Realists tend to gravitate
towards? Briefly explain how Gustave Courbet's Burial at Ornans fits into this style, and how it
differs from "Academic" treatments of funerary subjects. correct answers The Realist movement
was about deviating from Academic art to focus on observing and capturing what was happening
during the present time. Avoided idealization. Depicted middle and lower class. Focused on
subjects from modern world that were ignored by Academic art. The Burial at Ornans was huge,
depicting something too mundane to be that huge by Academic standards. Depicted Courbet's
"Academic Art" correct answers State-sanctioned art created in the "official" art style established
by the French Academy, which looks to the art of ancient Greece and Rome for inspiration.
Characterized by: 1. crisp, clear renderings with a convincing illusion of space. 2. statuesque,
naturalistic, Classically-proportioned figures. 3. rich colors (often mixed and arranged in precise
ratios to achieve 'perfect' color balance). 4. harmoniously ordered and balanced compositions.
History Painting correct answers Large-scale paintings depicting mythological or religious
subject matter, important political figures, or historical battle scenes, usually meant to impart
some sort of moral message (propaganda).
Avant-garde correct answers Radical artists who made intentional breaks with traditional styles
and techniques in order to push artistic thinking and challenge society. The goal was the
modernization of art itself, to match the dramatic modernization of society that'd taken place
since the Industrial Revolution.
Modernism correct answers Trend of challenging tradition and inventing new artistic styles and
methods.
Realism correct answers A movement in the mid-19th Century painting in which artists
committed themselves to depicting the observable realities of modern life. Realists believed that
art should express objective, empirical, observable truths, and in order to do this, the artist must
resist idealization and imagination and depict the world and its people honestly. They focused
their attention on subjects that'd long been deemed uninteresting or inappropriate for depiction as
"high art."
Impressionism correct answers A painting style in the late 19th Century in which artists attempt
to capture the spontaneous optical experience of a changing moment, as well as the quickening
pace and transience of modern life. Supposed to be like a snapshot of what the artist saw, the
subjective experience of seeing, and translating that vision onto the canvas (ignoring the "rules"
for how to make a painting). Characterized by: 1. The optical experience of light and atmosphere
(especially natural outdoor lighting). 2. A sense of motion and spontaneity. 3. Casual scenes of
modern city life and middle and working class leisure.
plein-air painting correct answers "in the open air," refers to the Impressionist characteristic of
taking the canvas outside and painting a scene on the spot (rather than making sketches and then
going back to the studio to work on the painting.) This was done in an attempt to spontaneously
capture the artist's optical experience of the scene in front of him.
ukiyo-e correct answers Japanese woodblock prints. Very influential to avant-garde artists.
Admired for their exotic "otherness" and organic linear qualities, flat forms and figures, as well
as their creatively cropped and poetically arranged compositions, which offered viewers a
""privileged point of view" of the subject.
, Japonisme correct answers Incorporation of Japanese-inspired stylistic elements into Western art.
Elements inspired by Japanese prints include: 1. Close-cropped, intimate composition (the
privileged point of view). 2. The abundance of decorative patterning on the floor, walls,
furnishings, etc. 3. Subtle flattening of the space of the image. 4. The domestic subject matter.
Post-Impressionism correct answers A term used by art historians to identify a broad reaction
against Impressionism in avant-garde painting of the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. There is
no one consistent visual style for Post-Impressionism. Thing in common was a desire for
"authenticity" in their art. They sought to express their own, unique inner visions, usually
through abstraction.
"authenticity" (in the context of modern art) correct answers The desire to create a new, original,
and personal artistic style.
abstraction correct answers Art that is unconcerned with the literal depiction of things from the
visible world. Abstract art often refers to or suggests objects or images from reality that have
been simplified, broken down, or otherwise altered for expressive purposes.
Neo-Impressionism (aka Divisionism) correct answers (Also called Divisionism or Pointillism)
the style invented by Georges Seurat in which the painting is composed of tiny dots of pure
colors that are meant to mix optically rather than being physically mixed on the palette or
canvas.
Expressionism correct answers Art in which conveying the intensity of an artist's feelings
overrides the need to remain truthful to the actual natural appearance of things.
"acid color scheme" correct answers Intensely contrasting colors next to each other in order to
create a garish visual effect.
Symbolism correct answers Diverse movement across 19th Century Europe in which artists
turned away from depictions of optical reality (the realm of Realists and Impressionists) and
inward to the depiction of their own fantasies, dreams, and psychological states of mind.
"the dismantling of space" correct answers Deconstruction of the idea and techniques for
rendering illusionistic space. Radically challenging traditional rules. The experimentation with
the formal and compositional elements of painting, and in particular a deconstruction of the idea
and techniques for rendering illusionistic space.
What is the Realist art movement all about? What kinds of subjects did Realists tend to gravitate
towards? Briefly explain how Gustave Courbet's Burial at Ornans fits into this style, and how it
differs from "Academic" treatments of funerary subjects. correct answers The Realist movement
was about deviating from Academic art to focus on observing and capturing what was happening
during the present time. Avoided idealization. Depicted middle and lower class. Focused on
subjects from modern world that were ignored by Academic art. The Burial at Ornans was huge,
depicting something too mundane to be that huge by Academic standards. Depicted Courbet's
