During this postmodern era, there are many who have questioned What is art? Lately artistic expressions have developed a lot, due to the growing interest that has been aroused around the arts. art in simple words
A precise definition indicates that “Art” is the word that groups together all expressions made by men that attempt to express a sensitive vision of the world. The art is the concept that encompasses all creations made by humans to express a sensitive vision about the world, whether real or imaginary.
Art uses various resources, which can be plastic, sound or linguistic, in order to express ideas, emotions, perceptions and sensations. It is important not to confuse the craftsmanship of the “fine arts”, since the former refer to multiple works while those who create unique works are considered artists.
To understand a little better what art is , we can delve into its different expressions. art in simple words
According to the history with the appearance of Homo Sapiens, art had a ritual, magical and religious function, and with the passage of time this little by little changes and goes through many new ways of seeing art and expressing it, for this reason the art varies according to time and culture.
In ancient Greece art was classified into six categories: architecture, dance, sculpture, music, painting, and poetry or literature. In Ancient Rome the arts are divided into activities that require manual labor and those that do not. This same division applies during the Middle Ages, the former being called the mechanical arts and the latter the liberal arts .
In the Italian Renaissance at the end of the 15th century, a distinction began to be made between crafts, where various works are produced, and fine arts, where the works are unique, being at this time where we find one of the most important stages in the history of the Art, where magnificent artists lived and left us the best works and even today they are still praised throughout the world. art in simple words
During Mannerism, art distanced itself from the rules and the representation of the reality of the Renaissance, opening up to imagination, subjectivity, inspiration and originality.
In the twentieth century, the taste of the cultured to be very influential and changing, being a time of consumerism where artists and their works are ignored and the new techniques of industrial reproduction destroy the unique and original character of the work of art. art in simple words
Architecture is known as the art of building following a program or plan, and using the various means or resources available. Architectural works vary throughout history, precisely because of the use of different materials in their construction. In short, architecture is the art of planning and erecting structures.
This expression of art is, perhaps, one of the most different; it has a solid scientific foundation unlike the others such as dance and music, and also responds to complex techniques and procedures. For this reason, an architectural structure is only considered as “art” if it expresses the culture of an era, its spiritual beliefs and other constitutive elements such as the relationships it establishes with the space where it is located.
For this reason, it is also considered that Architecture or architectural works have the ability to shape and transform space, and manage to fuse beauty and utility; since a work will not be beautiful if it does not fulfill the purpose for which it was designed. art in simple words
In ancient Greece , six disciplines were included within art: architecture, dance, sculpture, music, painting, and poetry. There are other expressions of modern art, which have been included during the modern era. These are the cinema (known as the seventh art), photography (known as the eighth art, although some claim that it is only an extension of painting) and finally the comic strip (known as the ninth art, although some allege that these they are a bridge between painting and cinema).
It is considered that there are other artistic expressions although they have not been called as such, such as television, fashion, advertising and video games are other disciplines that are sometimes considered as artistic.
Main concepts art in simple words
The concept of art is not innate but learned by it, the successful acquisition of the concept depends on certain experiences that the child experiences in an art environment.
The description of an activity implies concepts, and the recognition of the adequacy of the understanding of the concept of art by the teacher does not ultimately depend on his mastery of language in an artistic or aesthetic context, but rather on the type of existential commitments that is exhibited in relation to the elements of works of art. art in simple words
When someone asks about the concept of art, they are really talking about how art cannot be defined. Art is often seen as the process or product of the deliberate arrangement of elements in a way that appeals to the senses or emotions.
It encompasses a wide diversity of human activities, creations, and forms of expression, including music, literature, film, sculpture, and painting. The meaning of art is explored in a branch of philosophy known as aesthetics.
Key features art in simple words
Although the concept of art of art has changed over the years, and has different points of view, the field of art history has developed to allow categorizing changes in art over time and better understanding the process of art. art its form and configuration by the creative impulses of the artists.
Having a solid understanding of art history is important to elucidate the characteristics of art. One of them is that for art to exist there must be a spectator public interested in its development and its products. Art also reflects the culture, the work and the idiosyncrasies of nations.
To create in art, you need to have everything you need to connect and create at the moment. This means that art supplies are simple, portable and take up little space, they also pack quickly. art in simple words
To create in art, it is necessary to be ingenious and daring, that is, to open a comfortable place to work where the creator is attracted to a plant, an animal, a pattern, a shadow or a movement. Likewise, it should start when a connection is felt.
The practice of art encourages connection over and over again. The difference between making art in general and art anywhere at any time is the activation of the creative nature at any time. art in simple words
It means practicing how to change into a creative connection with yourself, with others, and with the living world. Like meditation, this is a practice that strengthens the ability to quickly switch to the mind of art with more grace and fluency each time.
The elements and principles of art are the basis of the language used to talk about it. The elements of art are the visual tools that the artist uses to create a composition. Such as line, shape, color, value, texture, and space.
The principles of art represent the processes the artist uses, the elements of art to create an effect and to help convey intention. The principles of art are balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, pattern, rhythm, and unity / variety. Using these principles can help determine whether a work is successful, and whether or not it is finished. art in simple words
It is generally agreed that a successful painting is unified, although it also has some variety created by areas of contrast and emphasis, is visually balanced, and moves the viewer’s eye around the composition. Thus, one principle of art can influence the effect and impact of the other.
Meaning and conceptual definitions
By the most basic definition of the word art, an artist is simply a person who creates art. Art is subjective, for example beauty is in the eye of the beholder and therefore cannot be measured by its meaning or the skill level with which it is created. Its subjective nature means that the only measurable quality of art is whether it exists or not.
Except for the existence of a piece, there is almost nothing definitive in it. For this reason, good art is transcendent, both in time and in absolute meaning. It is inherently controversial. Good art can mean something different to everyone, causing a debate or simply an agreement or disagreement. Good art can cause problems, but it can also help solve them.
Good art has the ability to inspire and provoke can be contagious. It also has the ability to distract and envelop whether it is being created or can be grateful to be immersed in it, good art is there for whatever reason it was created.
Most people feel a connection when they look at art, especially art that attracts them personally. Putting this feeling into words can be difficult at times, but just because you can’t always explain the meaning of art, in concrete terms, this doesn’t mean it’s not real or important, and it doesn’t mean you’re missing anything.
Therefore, if you look at a work of art and feel nothing, all it means is that that particular work of art is not made for and is related to the viewer. Therefore, if you contemplate enough art, you can learn to determine what you like and what has the most meaning for the person at a given time.
The artist has the job of living, feeling and processing his unique experience and then finding a way to express it to others. The viewer may or may not get the same feelings that the artist wanted to express, and that’s fine. art in simple words
One of the fun things about art is watching how people interpret it differently. Art is the physical manifestation of a mysterious human force that is the imagination. If it awakens the imagination or puts you in a certain mood, then the viewer is understanding and identifying with art.
The key in the meaning of art is to find out what the viewer is really passionate about when he finds it, he will feel it. If you find that a certain shade of red makes you happy and energized, making the conscious choice to put something of that color in your living room for you to see every day can theoretically make you one more person. happy and with more energy.
When the spirit feels heavy and sad, art can help to get out of that state. When people feel trapped by apathy or loss in a sense of frustration, looking at art can help bring the viewer back to himself and help him find a purpose to move on. Deliberately creating a mood in your immediate environment can drive you to create the life you want, in a very tangible way.
Importance of Art in our life
Art is important, because it has the power to educate people about almost everything. You can raise awareness and present information in a way that could be easily absorbed by many. In a world where there are people who do not even have access to a good education, art makes education an even greater equalizer of society. art in simple words
Likewise, art promotes cultural appreciation among a generation that is currently preoccupied with technology. In fact, it can be said that if it weren’t for art, history, culture and traditions would be in more danger of being forgotten than they already are. Learn more about the importance of art in this space.
History of art art in simple words
In art history, various types of analysis are used to provide answers. These have varied over time and continue to evolve, but in general three categories can be distinguished, using different types of analysis, often without explicitly identifying them.
Oil and pigments on canvas, carved marble, woven fibers, a concrete dome, most works of art and architecture are physical things. As such, a fundamental determinant of the way they look is the material they are made of. In architecture, the word used for this is simply materials. Learn more about the history of art in this space.
Types of art
Aesthetics is a characteristic of the types of art, it is related to nature and the appreciation of art, beauty and taste. Aesthetics is fundamental to any exploration of art. The word aesthetic is derived from the Greek aisthetikos, which means aesthetic, sensitive or sensitive.
In practice, aesthetic judgment refers to the contemplation or sensory appreciation of an object, while artistic judgment refers to the recognition, appreciation, or criticism of a work of art. Numerous philosophers have tried to address the concept of beauty and art. Therefore, the aesthetic experience of beauty is a judgment of a subjective but common human truth. Learn more about the types of art in this space.
Artistic disciplines
There are five artistic disciplines that celebrate and contribute to personal and community well-being. They are powerful forms of personal, social and cultural expression. Each of the disciplines has different languages and practices that use both verbal and non-verbal conventions. The disciplines interrelate and connect through stories, technologies, conventions, and creative practices. Learn more about the art disciplines in this space.
Three-dimensional compositions
Another expression of art is sculpture, which refers to the creation of expressive forms composed of three dimensions, forming volumes (when the materials used are compact) or objects (when the design is based on the delimitation of space through materials such as threads, ropes, among others). The first form (volumes) is the traditional one, while the second is more avant-garde. art in simple words
Traditional sculpture is based on the design of volumetric shapes through the modeling of substances such as clay, wax or others; or you can also carve materials such as stone, wood or granite, giving them the desired shape. Another way to create traditional sculptures is through molds that reproduce in relief the shape that the sculptor embodies in the mold.
On the other hand, modern sculpture creates forms using space, and uses pieces of iron, wires, wood threads and everything that can help to capture the design that you have in mind.
visual arts art in simple words
Another expression of what art is is painting, where the artist reproduces by means of drawing some real object or product of his imagination, on a flat surface such as canvas, wall, among others. Painting is the oldest of artistic expressions, followed by sculpture and architecture.
The painting has classifications; For example, it is known as fresco painting when it is applied on walls and ceiling and colors dissolved in water with lime are used; there is also oil painting, when the painting was made with faded colors in blotting oil.
Another type of painting is known as “pastel”, when it is done with soft and pasty pencils; watercolor when using very light colors diluted in water; gouache when using thick colors that are tempered with honey and rubber water, and many other painting techniques.
The visual arts are another expression of art, and these are nothing more than printing and illustration, communicating the artist’s ideas through graphics and images. This category includes all representations that are made on a flat surface.
A distinctive element of the visual arts is that it focuses in a balanced way on compositional elements and compositional principles; in this way it is guaranteed that the work will be attractive to the observer. art in simple words
Some men dedicated their lives to different artistic expressions, and spent their entire lives trying to discover what art is , and communicate their vision of it in their artistic works. Some of the main exhibitors of the traditional are Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello or Raphael.
And among the most outstanding works of the aforementioned artists can be listed the legendary painting “La Gioconda”, the architectural work known as “The Sistine Chapel”, the sculpture “David”, and other works such as “Gattamelata”, “Venus de Urbino ”and“ The Marriage of the Virgin ”.
The list of works of art continues to expand today, as UNESCO constantly executes a categorization of artistic works and monuments of incalculable value and beauty. Some of the pieces included in this list are the Mosque of Córdoba, the Cathedral of Seville, the historic center of Lima, the Statue of Liberty, among others.
The maintenance of these and other monuments is a priority for the defenders of art and those responsible for said pieces, which is why every piece considered as a work of art is subjected to various conservation and restoration processes, in order to avoid its deterioration and keep these magnificent pieces in good condition. art in simple words
In short, what is art? It is the expression or representation of a person’s feelings or ideas through visual pieces, and not words; being in many occasions said pieces much more eloquent than an elaborate speech.
Most relevant classical artists within art
Giotto di Bondote : born in 1267, he was an Italian painter, sculptor and architect of the Trecento, who was considered a precursor of the evolution of the Renaissance, breaking the medieval concepts of the Middle Ages and Byzantine art. He was the initiator of three-dimensional space in European painting. One of his most important works is the Series of frescoes in the Scrovegni Chapel.
Jan Van Eyck: born in 1395, he was a Flemish late Gothic painter, a leading figure in the transition from international Gothic to the Flemish school, known as the father of oil painting thanks to his development of the very realistic and full technique of details and founder of the western portrait. His key work was the Portrait of the Arnolfini marriage.
Hieronymus Bosch, El Bosco: born in 1450, he was a Flemish painter with a very personal style and different from contemporary artists. He anticipated surrealism with his dreamlike imagination. His most outstanding work was The Garden of Earthly Delights.
Leonardo da Vinci: born in 1452, he was a painter, sculptor, draftsman, architect, engineer, philosopher, inventor … genius of multiple talents, visionary and archetype of the Renaissance man. Famous for his paintings and wall paintings. His key work was The Last Supper.
Michelangelo: born in 1475, a great Italian sculptor, painter and architect of the Renaissance, with great knowledge and study of the human body. One of his most important work was David.
Albrecht Dürer : born in 1471, he was a painter, draftsman, engraver and art theorist of the German Renaissance, he was an inspiration due to his engravings and his dramatic self-portraits. His key work was Melancolía I.
El Greco: born in 1541, he was a late Renaissance Mannerism painter, achieving a personal style drawing very elongated and ghostly figures. He was considered in his time as an eccentric and outcast, it was in the middle of the 18th century when he would be recognized as one of the greatest western painters. One of his important work was The Burial of the Count of Orgaz.
Gian Lorenzo Bernini: born in 1598, he was an Italian sculptor, architect and painter of the Baroque, created compositions that captured the culminating moment of the drama being one of his most famous work Ecstasy of Santa Teresa. Here you can see the biography of Lorenzo Bernini
Diego Velázquez: born in 1599, he was a Spanish Baroque painter, noted for his simplification and speed of execution. His key work was Las Meninas. You can see the biography of Diego de Velazquez. art in simple words
Rembrandt: born in 1606, he was a Dutch Baroque painter, printmaker and famous in the field of photography for his lighting Rembrandt features in his portraits. Important work The Night Watch. art in simple words