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Art, Man And Society

Nature of Art
Art is one of the oldest and most important means of expression developed
by man. It can be defined and use in various ways. It covers areas of artistic
creativity that seek to communicate beauty primarily through senses. Art is timeless
and started since men have lived together.
Prehistoric Art
The first expression of art can be traced from prehistoric times which date
50,000 BCE 2,000 BCE. Majority of this era roughly correspond to methods of
gathering food and the tools and weapons. Before writing system, the only historical
available are in objects and images which is an ART however these indigenous art
forms and national treasures pertain more to archeology rather than art.
Paleolithic Period
Known as Old Stone Age (about 10,000 BC) prior to the development of
agriculture when people lived in hunter-gatherer nomadic tribes. They live
communally in cave entrances and under rocky overhangs.
Artwork is characterized by engraved bones, ivory usually with animals.
Some sculpture during the era included small female statuettes carved in
ivory and stone, apparently with religious importance.
The oldest undisputed works of art were found in the Germany (Schwabische
Alb, Baden Wurttemberg).
Venus of Hohle Fels a figurine of a woman 2.4 inches tall made
from mammoth ivory.
Lion Man or in Germany Lowenmensch/ lowenfrau for lion lady an
oldest ivory sculpture that is known as zoomorphic (animal shaped)
sculpture in the world; interpreted as anthropomorphic giving human
characteristics to an animal.
Upper Paleolithic Age to Mesolithic
Cave paintings and portable art like figurines and beads predominated with
decorative figured workings which are also seen on some utilitarian objects.
Cave and wall Paintings mostly found in Lascaux, France and Altamira, Spain
characterized by stylized outline of animals and people using pigments on the
surface of the rock walls. These pigments were a mixed of animal fat, blood,
sap or anything they could use for a binder.
Venus of Brassempouy a fragmentary ivory figurine which is one of the
earliest known realistic representations of a human face discovered at
Brassempouy, France in 1892.
Neolithic
Refers to the new stone age generally reflecting the uses of stone tools w/
some use of metals, and with people setting into permanent communities.
A revolutionary shift from hunting and gathering to farming and herding.
In the Neolithic an evidence of early pottery appeared as did sculpture and
the construction of megaliths. (E.g. Neolithic pottery jar found in Yellow River,
China were surfaces were painted with geometric patterns).
New art form like Monumental stone sculpture were built not for habitation,
but more likely for some sort of worship
References:
Introduction to Humanities by Estolas J. et al. (1995).
Art: Texts and Contents An Interactive Workbook in HUMANITIES by Gayeta M. et al (2010).
Introduction to Art Appreciation by Ariola M. (2008).
Other internet sources.

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Art, Man And Society

Menhirs are solitary upright slabs.

Alignments are cemetery like rows of menhirs
Cromlech - a circular pattern of menhirs. (e.g. Stonehenge)
Stonehenge -One of the most famous sites in the world, composed of
earthworks surrounding a circular setting of large standing stones and sits at
the centre of the densest complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in
England, including several hundred burial mounds. It is a sacred precinct for
nature worshipping rituals.

Bronze Age
A period of advanced metalworking especially utilization of bronze.
The advent of metal working brought an increase in stylistic diversity of art.
In Great Britain, the Bronze Age is considered to have been the period from
around 2100 to 750 BC
Two handled bronze vessel
Chinese Shang Dynasty
(1600 1046 BC)

Drinking cup, gold

Mycena Greek
Around 1500 BC

Iron Age
Civilization with writing system arisen from Ancient Egypt to Ancient China
Maya Glyphs in Stucco at the Museo de Sitio in Palenque, Mexico.
Asian Art
India and Southeast Asia all the arts focused on the life of Gods, legendary
heroes and mythical beings.
Oriental Artist reflects their religious knowledge, beliefs and
experiences in their work of art.
Thai Artist portrays the peoples aim at serving and exalting their faith.
India art is a concrete example of religion.
Tibet sculpture is a religious art.
Japan shintoism is the national religion, art depicts purification and self
control.
Indonesia dance is highly developed as an art and as a form of
entertainment.
China pottery is the oldest form of art.
India famous for architectural masterpiece Taj Mahal.
Persia artistry is depicted in color, design and the weaving skill, famous for
its rugs and carpets.
Definition of Art
Art derived from the Latin word Ars meaning ability or skill. F.V. Estolas

References:
Introduction to Humanities by Estolas J. et al. (1995).
Art: Texts and Contents An Interactive Workbook in HUMANITIES by Gayeta M. et al (2010).
Introduction to Art Appreciation by Ariola M. (2008).
Other internet sources.

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Art, Man And Society

Taken from Italian word Artis which means craftsmanship, skill, mastery of
form, inventiveness, and association between form and ideas, material and
technique. A. Tan
Art is a product of mans need to express himself. F. Zulueta
Art which brings life in harmony with the beauty of the word. plato

Given the various definition of art there are 4 common essentials of art;
1. Art must be man made
2. Art must be creative
3. Art must benefit and satisfy man
4. Art expressed through a certain medium or material by which artist
communicate himself to fellows.
Importance of Art
1. Art communicates feelings and emotions expressively and forcefully;
2. It connects people around the world;
3. It stimulates our thoughts when recreating the message of the artist;
4. It is a great tool for learning;
5. It reminds us of the heroic deeds of great men or peoples selfless actions
and nationalism;
6. It serve as source of inspiration and aesthetic pleasure;
7. It makes the surrounding look better and complete;
8. It commemorates certain occasions;
9. It transforms us into highly cultured and respectable human beings; and
10.It makes us human.
A work of art is an activity that involves both imagination and skills. It creates
aesthetic feelings which delight and satisfy the desire of beautiful things. According
to Bogart work of art is the records of a particular artist view and it is a product of
artist unique personality influenced consciously or unconsciously by factors such as;
o Environment
o Feelings or emotion
o Traditions
o National traits
o Religious beliefs
o Economic conditions
o Ideals
o Climate and geography
Art appreciation is the ability to interpret or understand man-made arts and enjoy
them through actual and work experience for ones admiration and satisfaction.
The subject of art serve as the foundation of work of art, subject may be a person,
object, scene or an event.
o Representational or objective art are the artworks that depict
something easily recognized by people.
o Non representational or non-objective art are the artworks that have
no similarity to any real subject.

References:
Introduction to Humanities by Estolas J. et al. (1995).
Art: Texts and Contents An Interactive Workbook in HUMANITIES by Gayeta M. et al (2010).
Introduction to Art Appreciation by Ariola M. (2008).
Other internet sources.

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Art, Man And Society
Functions of Art
1. Aesthetic function makes a man conscious of the beauty of the nature. Able
to learn to use, love and preserve art for enjoyment and appreciation.
2. Utilitarian function makes man lives in comfort and happiness.
3. Cultural function transmits and preserves skills and knowledge from
generation to another.
4. Social function makes man learn to love and help each other, have an
international understanding to be a unified, friendly, cooperative and
sympathetic nations.
Artists are people who manifest creativity in different works of art they
communicates their thoughts, fantasies, observation and self revelation through art,
such artist are called in many ways;
The Visual Artists
Painter paints pictures and objects from own imagination and applies paint,
pigment color, sand, clay, scraps of paper, and other mediums to surfaces
such as wall, paper, canvas, wood, or glass to form an art.
Sculptor draws and carves from original designs and sketches as well as
shapes and re-shapes various mediums such as wood, stone, metal, glass to
form his masterpiece.
Architect plans design and constructs public and commercial buildings,
schools and other physical structures primarily to provide shelter.
Designer studies fashion trends, sketches design of clothing and
accessories and selects colors and fabrics to create dresses, shoes and other
accessories.
Photographer controls the camera and lens to expose the light recording
material to form a latent image (on film) or raw file (on digital cameras)
which after processing is converted to a usable image.
The Performing Artists
Actor or Actress acts in a dramatic production or interpret a dramatic
character usually who works in a film, television and theatre.
Dancer expresses ideas, stories, rhythm, and sound with his body usually
works in musical shows, opera, musical comedy, and music videos.
Musicians artist who is called by other names such as composer, performer,
instrumentalist, symphonist, pianist, violinist, and flutist etc. and may be a
music leader, band master, choirmaster, concertmaster or song leader.
Instrumentalist plays musical instrument as distinguished from vocalist
Singer uses voice to produce music often accompanied by musicians and
instrumentalist.

References:
Introduction to Humanities by Estolas J. et al. (1995).
Art: Texts and Contents An Interactive Workbook in HUMANITIES by Gayeta M. et al (2010).
Introduction to Art Appreciation by Ariola M. (2008).
Other internet sources.

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Art, Man And Society
Composer writes an original composition (puts tones together and
composes melodies and songs).
The Literary Artist
Essayist writes compositions which can be about any particular subject.
Novelist writes a long work of written fiction that basically involves many
characters and tells a complex story.
Poet displays imaginative power and beauty of thought and language
through poetry.
Playwright also known as dramatist writes dramatic literature or drama. It
may be written to be performed by actors or it may be a closet drama or a
literary work written using dramatic form but not meant for performance.
Scriptwriter prepares scripts for commercials, soap operas, comedies and
dramas that appear on television, in films and on stage.
Grouping of Art an art may be grouped in many ways but generally it is grouped
into major and minor arts.
Major arts are works of art that are aesthetically pleasing and meaningful. They
appeal to the senses of sight, hearing, and feeling.
Architecture art or science of building specifically practice of designing and
building structures and habitual ones.
Dance a sport and art form that generally refers to the movement of the
body usually rhythmic and used as a form of expression, social interaction or
presented in a spiritual or performance setting.
Fashion design the applied art dedicated to clothing and lifestyle
accessories created within the cultural and social influences of a specific
time.
Literature any art in written work. Literature comes from the word littera
which means letter.
Music art form whose medium is sound organized in time. Common
elements of music are pitch, rhythm, tempo, meter, dynamics, and the sonic
qualities of timbre and texture.
Painting practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a
surface like wall, paper, canvas, wood and glass.
Sculpture an art of creating three-dimensional forms or figures through
carving, modeling and casting. Sculpture comes from the Latin word
sculpere which means to carve.

References:
Introduction to Humanities by Estolas J. et al. (1995).
Art: Texts and Contents An Interactive Workbook in HUMANITIES by Gayeta M. et al (2010).
Introduction to Art Appreciation by Ariola M. (2008).
Other internet sources.

HUMN5
Art, Man And Society
Minor arts are work of art that lies more in the styling, it addressed primarily to
the senses of sight and their usefulness.
Decorative art concerned with the design and decoration of object for its
utility than for aesthetic qualities like ceramics, glassware, basketry, jewelry,
metalware, furniture, textiles, clothing and others.
Graphic art refers to the art of drawing, painting or printmaking which
focuses on visual communication and presentation.
Industrial art a tantamount to practical art such as engineering,
metalworking or carpentry.
Plastic art a visual arts involve the use of material that can be molded or
modulated in some way often in three dimensional such arts include
sculpture and decorative materials.
Popular art an art that is characterized as gay and lively. It may refers to
any dance, literature, music or other art form intended to be received and
appreciated by ordinary people in a literate and technologically advanced
society dominated by urban culture (film, newspaper, magazine, radio,
television).
Other Classification of Art
I. By the Audience - focus on how audience classified arts
Performing Arts an art form that is moving from one place to another who
uses body as a medium and also involves speaking and gestures.
Example: theatre, play, dance and music.
Visual Arts an art work that is perceived by our eyes exist in two
dimensional forms (Graphic art) and or in three dimensional forms (Plastic
art) that stay in one place.
Example: painting, photography, drawing, films, sculpture, engraving,
wooden materials, silk screen, cartoon, stained glass, mosaic, and stage
setting.
Literature any art in written form that talks about language that affects our
imagination and make us think.
Example: short stories, novels, poetry, dramas.
II. By Critics focus on how people judge art
Major Arts or Fine Arts
Minor Arts or Applied Arts
Pure Art created and performed for other sake and to satisfy the audience.
It takes only one medium of expression like sound in music and color in
painting.
References:
Introduction to Humanities by Estolas J. et al. (1995).
Art: Texts and Contents An Interactive Workbook in HUMANITIES by Gayeta M. et al (2010).
Introduction to Art Appreciation by Ariola M. (2008).
Other internet sources.

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Art, Man And Society

Practical Art directed to produce artifacts and utensils for the satisfaction of
human needs simply an art with a purpose or for practical use.
III. By an Artist characterize by special sensing, physical and special senses;
Sight art something that you can see, imagines, and creates.
Sound Art something that you can hear.
Touch Art something that you can feel or touch.
IV. Other Classification
Real Art something that is understandable what you see is what you get,
objective and representational.
Abstract Art non subject matter, non representational.
Contrasting Art and Crafts
Art

Involves exploring, discovering and thinking

Creative or Original
An expression of emotion
Unstructured or open ended
A source of inspiration / inspired people
More related to aesthetics
Process is value over finished products

Craft
Skilled work that Involve application of a technique to reproduce, copy or
imitate
Similar or identical
No emotion involved
Structured or closed
Attracts people
Historically associated with production of useful objects (teapot/vase)
Finished product is value over process.
Process of Creation
1. Conceptualize a good subject
2. Choose the size you want
3. Create your own crop
4. Think about placement
5. Control your lines
6. Balance positive and negative space
7. Add contrast
8. Simplify distracting elements
9. Choose your colors deliberately

References:
Introduction to Humanities by Estolas J. et al. (1995).
Art: Texts and Contents An Interactive Workbook in HUMANITIES by Gayeta M. et al (2010).
Introduction to Art Appreciation by Ariola M. (2008).
Other internet sources.

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Art, Man And Society
Medium is the means or material by which artist communicates idea. These are the
materials used by an artist to interpret his feelings or thoughts.
Technique is the manner in which the artist control his medium to achieve the
desired effect
Classification of art based on medium
Auditory those medium that can be heard at which expressed in time.
Visual Arts those medium that can be seen and which occupy space (Dimensional
or two dimensional and three dimensional).
Combined Arts those medium that can be both seen and heard at which exist in
both space and time.
Components of paint
Pigments small particles of colored compounds.
Media serves to suspend the pigments and bind them to the surface of the object
painted (e.g. beeswax, linseed oil, walnut oil, plaster, gum Arabic and egg yolk).
Diluents allow the painter to thin the paint to the best consistency for the work
(e.g. water, turpentine, or mineral spirits).
Mediums of Paintings
Watercolor - a pigment mixed with water and applied to the surface of smooth or
rough paper.
Paintings usually retain a translucent quality, Spontaneity (naturalness) and
changes may be made upon the application of paint.
Fresco - painting on a moist plaster surface with colors ground in water or a
limewater mixture.
The pigment is absorbed and is bound into the surface as the plaster dries;
picture becomes part of the wall. It must be done quickly because it dries easily
and the image is permanently fixed and almost impossible to remove.
Tempera - a mixing pigment with egg or ore applying on a very hard smooth surface
and usually layers of rubbed plaster gresso (chalk and gum). It is luminous
tone and it dry rapidly thus corrections are difficult to make.
Pastel - a stick of dried paste made of pigment round with chalk and compounded
with gum water.
Colors are luminous and a very flexible medium and is difficult to preserve.
Oil - pigments are mixed with linseed oil and applied to the canvas. One of the most
expensive art activities and the heaviest of painting media. It dry slowly and
painting may be changed and worked over a long period of time.

References:
Introduction to Humanities by Estolas J. et al. (1995).
Art: Texts and Contents An Interactive Workbook in HUMANITIES by Gayeta M. et al (2010).
Introduction to Art Appreciation by Ariola M. (2008).
Other internet sources.

HUMN5
Art, Man And Society
Encaustic - painting with wax colors fixed with heat. Early mediums used by
Egyptian for the painted portrait on mummy case.
Mosaic - medium used is not strictly a pigment. A picture or decoration made of
small pieces colored stones or glass called tesserae
Stained glass - made of combined many pieces of colored glass.
Tapestry - a fabric consisting of a warp which colored threads are woven by hand to
produce a design.
Drawing done on paper, using pencil, pen, ink etc. most fundamental of all skills
necessary in arts.
Bistre a brown pigment extracted from the soot of wood and often used in pen and
wash drawings.
Crayons pigments bound by wax and compressed into painted sticks used for
drawing.
Charcoal carbonaceous materials obtained from heating wood.
Silverpoint in this medium the artist has technique of drawing with silver stylus on
specially prepared paper to produce a thin grayish line that was popular during the
renaissance period.
Printmaking anything printed on a surface that is direct result from duplicating
process, there is five major types of prints woodcut, engraving, relief, intaglio, and
stencil painting.
Ways of presenting subject (methods of art production and presentation)
Realism
It is the attempt to portray the subject as it is (common subjects are about
political, social and moral issues). In realism the objects are presented in the way
they normally appear in nature such artwork is said to be realistic but does not
mean exactly alike because no art is even a duplicate of nature. The artist main
function is to describe accurately what is observed through the senses. Realist
works depicted people of all classes in situations that arise in ordinary life, and often
reflected the changes wrought by the industrial and commercial revolutions.
Example: The Gleaners by Jean Francois Millet 1857 (oil on canvas)
Abstraction
Abstract means to move away or to separate thus an abstract art moves
away from showing things as they are. The painters or artist paint a scene or a
situation that does not show the subject at all as an objective reality but only the
idea and feelings about it, simply the artwork is not realistic. Abstract art is nonobjective art which exist independently and is not based on external reality. It also
References:
Introduction to Humanities by Estolas J. et al. (1995).
Art: Texts and Contents An Interactive Workbook in HUMANITIES by Gayeta M. et al (2010).
Introduction to Art Appreciation by Ariola M. (2008).
Other internet sources.

HUMN5
Art, Man And Society
requires in depth view and critical analysis. Kandinsky and Mondrian are the first
abstractionist during the early 20th century.
The two different methods of abstraction semi abstraction in which image is still one
foot of the representational art and uses type of stylization of visual elements while
in pure abstraction the visual elements are independently as the actual subject of
the work itself.
Example: Composition VII by Wassily Kandinsky
Abstract art can be presented in many ways:
a. Distortion subject is in misshapen condition or the regular shape is twisted out;
b. Elongation subject is being lengthened or an extension;
c. Mangling subjects are cut, lacerated, mutilated, or hacked with repeated blows;
d. Cubism subjects are shown in basic geometrical shapes; and
e. Abstract expressionism subjects convey attitudes and emotions through
nontraditional and usually non-representational means.
Impressionism
A style of painting or an artistic movement at the end of 19 th century in
France. The artist captures the image of an object as someone would see if they
caught a glimpse of it. Works of art attempt to accurately and objectively record
visual reality in terms of transient effects of light and color but sometimes appear
slightly out of focus. It is mainly characterized by loose brushwork trying to
present nature in reality.
Example : Sunrise by Claude Monet 1873
Post Impressionism
An art emerged as a reaction against impressionists. Post impressionism
extended the impressionism while rejecting its limitation. Its an umbrella term used
to describe a variety of artists who were influenced by Impressionism but took their
art in different directions. This led toward notion where colors and forms are
essential than imitation of objective reality. It is less naturalistic than Impressionism.
Pointillism movement also took part in this period.
Example : Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh (oil on canvas)
A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat
1884
Symbolism
It developed as a literary and art movement in late 19 th century. The
presentation of an invisible sign such as an idea or a quality into something visible.
It is characterized by incorporating of symbols and ideas usually spiritual or mystical
in nature which represents the inner life of people.
Example: The Raven
Lion courage
Lamb meekness
References:
Introduction to Humanities by Estolas J. et al. (1995).
Art: Texts and Contents An Interactive Workbook in HUMANITIES by Gayeta M. et al (2010).
Introduction to Art Appreciation by Ariola M. (2008).
Other internet sources.

HUMN5
Art, Man And Society
Fauvism
An important movement in France at the beginning of 20 th century led by
Henry Matisse. The main emphasis was on color bright and free use of arbitrary
color (les Fauves mean wild beasts). Shapes were also not confined to objective
reality and showed strong exuberance of spirit. Themes did not attempt to express
ethical, philosophical or psychological themes rather subject are mostly a picture of
comfort, joy and pleasure.
Example: Portrait of Madame Matisse by Henri Matisse1906
Cubism
A movement in early 20th century influence by the works of Paul Cezanne
and further developed by Pablo Picasso and George Braque. The subject matter
were broken up, analyzed, and reassembled in abstract form (broken into basic
geometrical shapes). It is a non-objective approach.
Example: Les Demoiselles d'Avignon by Pablo Picasso 1907 (oil painting)
Dadaism
A protest movement in the arts formed in early 20 th century in Switzerland by
a group of artist and poets. It was a form of artistic anarchy born out of disgust for
the social, political and cultural establishment of the time which it held responsible
for Europe's descent into World War. Artist tried to shock and provokes the public
with outrageous art exhibitions and most of dadaic art was playful and highly
experimental. The name dada is a French word meaning hobby horse because it
was nonsensical.
Example: Fountain by Marcel Duchamp 1916-17
Surrealism
It was the positive outcome from Dada's negativity where art use as weapon
against the evil and restrictions in society. An artwork that tries to reveal a new and
higher reality than of daily life. It also attempt to show whats inside man mind as
well as the appearance of his outside world. Surrealism is an invented word
meaning super realism founded by Andre Breton in the 1920s and stretched the
human imagination revealing through artistic imagery world of fantasy and dreams,
not reality.
Example: The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali
Abstract expressionism
An artwork originated in New York City after World War II. Artist expresses
himself purely through the use of form and color and characterized by fast and
spontaneous and uneven brushstrokes, strong color and rough textures. It is a nonrepresentational or non-objective art, which means that there are no actual objects
represented.
Example: Autumn Rhythm by Pollock
Expressionism
References:
Introduction to Humanities by Estolas J. et al. (1995).
Art: Texts and Contents An Interactive Workbook in HUMANITIES by Gayeta M. et al (2010).
Introduction to Art Appreciation by Ariola M. (2008).
Other internet sources.

HUMN5
Art, Man And Society
A method introduced in Germany which the intention is not to reproduce a
subject accurately, but instead to portray it in such a way as to express the inner
state of the artist. Its primary focuses on expression of emotion and characterized
by bright or uneven grayish color, sharply linear or dark and brooding quality.
Example: The Scream by Edvard Munch
Futurism
Futurism was founded in 1909 by the poet Filippo Tommas Marinetti and
embraced the arts in their widest sense. Its works aims to capture the speed and
force of modern industrial society and to glorify the mechanical energy of modern
life.
Example:
Pop art
An art emerged in New York City during the early 1960s. Attention on familiar
images/objects of pop culture and interest in mass media, advertising, comics and
consumer products. It emphasizes flatness and frontal presentation, bright and bold
colors. Used of mechanical and other deliberately inexpressive techniques that
implies the removal of the artists hand and suggests the depersonalized processes
of mass production.
Example: Comics, Campbell soup, Marilyn Warhol
Op art
Focused on visual exploration of the inter relatedness of colors and other
optical effects in painting often resulting in striking and dramatic effects that also
were illusionary in terms of depth (optical illusion).
Example: Blue-Black by Victor Vasarely

References:
Introduction to Humanities by Estolas J. et al. (1995).
Art: Texts and Contents An Interactive Workbook in HUMANITIES by Gayeta M. et al (2010).
Introduction to Art Appreciation by Ariola M. (2008).
Other internet sources.