Art History I
Look for:
1. religion
2. politics
3. society
4. economies
5. geography and geology
How to identify
1. Title (underline it)
2. Artist’s last name
3. Style (timeline, e.g classical, prehistoric)
4. Technique (material)
5. Iconography (meaning)
6. Additional facts
3 periods of prehistoric arts
1. Paleolithic 30,000 BCE (paleo = old)
2. Mesolithic 7,000 BCE (meso = middle)
3. Neolithic 6,000 BCE (neo = new)
Humans started writing in 3100 BCE
Fundamental Principles
Humans were hunters/gatherers art is small and portable
Composite figure: part human part animal, usually involves 2 animals
3D sculpture: artwork you can walk around (e.g Venus of Willendorf, statue of
Liberty)
Relief sculpture: artwork is attached to something (e.g painting on cave walls)
What to look for in ancient paintings
1. Pigment color (ground up material)
2. Vehicle the liquid it flows (water, oil, blood)
3. Support the surface painted (wood, canvas, wall)
Look for:
1. religion
2. politics
3. society
4. economies
5. geography and geology
How to identify
1. Title (underline it)
2. Artist’s last name
3. Style (timeline, e.g classical, prehistoric)
4. Technique (material)
5. Iconography (meaning)
6. Additional facts
3 periods of prehistoric arts
1. Paleolithic 30,000 BCE (paleo = old)
2. Mesolithic 7,000 BCE (meso = middle)
3. Neolithic 6,000 BCE (neo = new)
Humans started writing in 3100 BCE
Fundamental Principles
Humans were hunters/gatherers art is small and portable
Composite figure: part human part animal, usually involves 2 animals
3D sculpture: artwork you can walk around (e.g Venus of Willendorf, statue of
Liberty)
Relief sculpture: artwork is attached to something (e.g painting on cave walls)
What to look for in ancient paintings
1. Pigment color (ground up material)
2. Vehicle the liquid it flows (water, oil, blood)
3. Support the surface painted (wood, canvas, wall)
