The Renaissance - week 1

The renaissance was a period where beautiful artwork was made; then again, what time period doesn’t have some sort of beautiful artwork? But I think our culture today holds the renaissance period in high regard because it is a period where art was taken to a different level. It is one of the first time periods it seems that perspective really was sought after and really integrated in the art work. I have noticed the paintings made a large leap in differences. Perspective, technique and subject matter all changed or shifted toward change in the renaissance period. There was still a lot of royalty paintings and religious paintings still, but the artist started to challenge the subject matter it seems. For example Leonard da Vinci and his piece Mona Lisa. Paintings seemed to have become very serious, and this painting was one of the first I noticed to really have an obvious smile. Or the artist Bruegel started painting different seasons of the year. There is not that much religious content in these paintings.

 

The realism in the 15^th and 16^th was better than the previous centuries; just looking at some of the art in the 14^th century, many of the paintings still had a very flat feel to them. But that changed in the 15th and 16th centuries, I would give that credit to the new techniques that they had learned. And the colors look a little different as well, maybe a little more vibrant and clear? But there is a good chance I am completely seeing things.

 

The artists that we look up to, study, and talk about were really fantastic artists and they do have long elaborate names. But I don’t think the long elaborate names had as much to do with it, other than easy to say, fun to say and it just rolls off the tongue. But I think the renaissance period is well known to people today, because it was taught in the elementary schools, you learn about some of these people when you are seven years old. But they are respected and taught because of the boundaries and new style that the artist of the time is what made people talk about it in the beginning. The new techniques and the naturalism of the art are really beautiful.

 

I believe during the renaissance time period, travel was very popular? If I remember right, my history is pretty rusty. But this also may have had an influence on how the artwork was spread and people learned about it. The artwork was probably seen all across the globe in this time period. Giving people all across the globe a look at what the most recent and profound artwork that was being made at the time. Making it well known and amazing from even just the time period of the renaissance to start with.

 

Overall I find the renaissance period one of the most fascinating time periods simply because the large amount of change that happened. I am looking forward learning more about how the renaissance time period affected the overall view point of art, and how we still apply it to today’s artwork.