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Dec 17, 2020 · Explore the major art periods from prehistoric times to the present, with dates, styles, and historical contexts. Learn how art reflects and shapes human culture, society, and expression across different eras and regions.
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2 days ago · Explore the history of art from ancient to contemporary periods, with examples of major movements and styles. Learn about the origins, characteristics and influences of each art period, from Renaissance to Pop Art.
- Prehistoric Art (~40,000–4,000 B.C.) The origins of art history can be traced back to the Prehistoric era, before written records were kept. The earliest artifacts come from the Paleolithic era, or the Old Stone Age, in the form of rock carvings, engravings, pictorial imagery, sculptures, and stone arrangements.
- Ancient Art (4,000 B.C.– A.D. 400) Ancient art was produced by advanced civilizations, which in this case refers to those with an established written language.
- Medieval Art (500–1400) The Middle Ages, often referred to as the “Dark Ages,” marked a period of economic and cultural deterioration following the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 A.D.
- Renaissance Art (1400–1600) This style of painting, sculpture, and decorative art was characterized by a focus on nature and individualism, the thought of man as independent and self-reliant.
Dec 4, 2022 · Explore the evolution of art from prehistoric to contemporary periods through this comprehensive guide. Learn about the main art movements, styles, and artists that shaped Western art history.
- Ancient Art. What we consider ancient art is what was created from around 30,000 B.C.E. to 400 A.D. If you prefer, it can be thought of as fertility statuettes and bone flutes to roughly the fall of Rome.
- Medieval to Early Renaissance Art. Some people still refer to the millennium between 400 and 1400 A.D. as the "Dark Ages." The art of this period can be considered relatively "dark" as well.
- Renaissance to Early Modern Art. This period covers the years 1400 through 1880 and it includes many of our favorite pieces of art. Much of the notable art created during the Rennaissance was Italian.
- Modern Art. Modern Art runs from around 1880 to 1970 and they were an extremely busy 90 years. The Impressionists opened the floodgates on new paths to take and individual artists such as Picasso and Duchamp were themselves responsible for creating multiple movements.
The Met’s Timeline of Art History pairs essays and works of art with chronologies and tells the story of art and global culture through the collection.
Explore the history of visual art from ancient to contemporary times, with detailed analysis of the most important works of each artist and movement. Search by artist, movement, or topic, or browse the latest pages for inspiration and insights.
