A short simylified history of painting illustrated with paintings

Written by Rainer: rainer.lehrer@yahoo.com

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A very brief, simplified history of painting

From antiquity actually almost nothing has remained. So I begin the story of painting with the Romanesque and early Christian art in Byzantium.

The Romanesque

 The faces have mostly the same and expressionless look, and if there didn’t appear a distinguishing symbol or sign, in most cases, it wouldn’t be clear at all, which person is represented there.

The Gothic

At that time, the so-called triangle arises. The upper left and right corner was usually left empty and the faces show a soulful expression.

The Renaissance

The focus is on the human being, with a great many classical themes from mythology. The illustrations are very realistic, though sometimes movements are a little exaggerated. Some painters make extreme experiments with perspective.

The Baroque

Characteristic for this period are the light-shadow play, Landscapes and Still-life.

The Rococo

Probably the accuracy of the drawing was no longer enough, and so it went over to an excessive and playful decoration.

The Classicist

At that time everything seems pompous; both the building, as well as almost everything what was painted.

The romance

Here two terms are attached best: pompous and symbolic.

Impressionism

After the invention of photography it seemed pointless to draw as it really was. And from that time on, the criteria for good painting no longer is the perfect technique, but: Which work is accepted by society? How much does it represent changes in society? How much does it determine fashion?

Modern arts

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