AH&A Timeline
1. Prehistoric Art (40,000–4,000 BCE)
- Earliest known art forms, including cave paintings, carvings, and megaliths, reflecting daily life, animals, and spiritual beliefs.
2. Ancient Egyptian Art (3,000–300 BCE)
- Characterized by hieroglyphics, pyramids, and statues with rigid, symbolic forms representing gods, pharaohs, and the afterlife.
3. Ancient Greek Art (900–31 BCE)
- Known for idealized sculptures, pottery, and architecture emphasizing balance, harmony, and proportion.
4. Ancient Roman Art (500 BCE–476 CE)
- Focused on realism and grandeur, with mosaics, frescoes, and monumental architecture like the Colosseum.
5. Byzantine Art (330–1453 CE)
- Religious art with mosaics, icons, and gold backgrounds, emphasizing spiritual representation over realism.
6. Romanesque Art (1000–1200 CE)
- Characterized by thick walls, round arches, and religious frescoes, reflecting a revival of monumental stone structures.
7. Gothic Art (1100–1500 CE)
- Marked by pointed arches, stained glass windows, and an emphasis on height and light in cathedrals.
8. Renaissance (1300–1600 CE)
- Revival of classical learning and realism, with artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo focusing on humanism and perspective.
9. Mannerism (1520–1600 CE)
- Distorted proportions, elongated figures, and complex compositions, reacting against Renaissance ideals.
10. Baroque (1600–1750 CE)
- Dramatic, detailed, and emotional art with strong contrasts of light and shadow, seen in works by Caravaggio and Bernini.
11. Rococo (1720–1780 CE)
- Ornate, playful, and light-hearted art with pastel colors and intricate details, often depicting scenes of leisure.
12. Neoclassicism (1750–1850 CE)
- Return to classical ideals of simplicity and symmetry, inspired by the art and culture of Ancient Greece and Rome.
13. Romanticism (1800–1850 CE)
- Emphasis on emotion, nature, and individualism, with dramatic landscapes and scenes of heroism.
14. Realism (1848–1900 CE)
- Depiction of everyday life and ordinary people with a focus on social issues, rejecting romanticized subjects.
15. Impressionism (1860–1890 CE)
- Focus on light, color, and everyday scenes, with artists like Monet using quick brushstrokes to capture moments in time.
16. Post-Impressionism (1880–1905 CE)
- Builds on Impressionism with more focus on structure, form, and symbolism, seen in the work of Van Gogh and Cézanne.
17. Symbolism (1880–1910 CE)
- Emphasis on dreams, emotions, and the mystical, using symbolic imagery to convey deeper meanings.
18. Art Nouveau (1890–1910 CE)
- Decorative art characterized by flowing, organic lines and intricate patterns, often inspired by nature.
19. Fauvism (1905–1910 CE)
- Use of bold, non-naturalistic colors and simplified forms, led by artists like Henri Matisse.
20. Cubism (1907–1914 CE)
- Fragmentation of objects into geometric shapes, challenging traditional perspectives, pioneered by Picasso and Braque.
21. Futurism (1909–1944 CE)
- Celebration of modernity, speed, and technology with dynamic compositions, originating in Italy.
22. Dada (1916–1924 CE)
- Anti-art movement rejecting traditional values, using absurdity, collage, and chance in works.
23. Surrealism (1920s–1950s)
- Exploration of the unconscious mind through dream-like scenes, strange juxtapositions, and symbolic imagery, seen in Dalí's work.
24. Abstract Expressionism (1940s–1950s)
- Emphasis on spontaneous, abstract forms and emotional intensity, with artists like Jackson Pollock leading the movement.