| Painting is the art of applying pigments to a | | | | Carolingian and Romanesque art where form has |
| surface whether it is on paper, canvas, a wall or | | | | been adapted for the illustration and illumination of |
| any other medium, to create an image with lines | | | | Christian texts. Gothic art generally depicted |
| and colors. The image can represent real objects | | | | subjects related to architecture. The |
| found around us or imaginary ones. It may also | | | | Pre-Renaissance period show a revival of interest |
| be an arrangement of abstract forms. The art of | | | | in classical art. It produced the International style |
| drawing is very essential in painting as one step | | | | which is characterized by refinement, decorative |
| together with composition and other aesthetic | | | | movement, elongated and swaying figures and |
| consideration in forming the finished work. | | | | linear pattern. The perfection of the technique of |
| History has allowed painting to serve a variety of | | | | oil painting during the Late-Gothic period made it |
| functions. It was an important part of religious | | | | possible to produce brilliant colors, minute details |
| rites during prehistoric times. It was also the most | | | | and permanence of finish. |
| common means of providing a visual record of | | | | The Renaissance period put much emphasis on |
| events and people. By the 20th century, painting | | | | man and the world rather than God. |
| has become a medium of personal expression. | | | | High-Renaissance was generally applied to the |
| Modern artists have incorporated other materials | | | | period when the idea of classical, balanced |
| such as sand, cement, straw and wood to add | | | | harmony was achieved. The Mannerist style |
| variation to the texture. The concept has slowly | | | | followed which was ironically characterized by |
| eclipsed the historic value of the craft but this has | | | | disturbing tensions and distortions. It was soon |
| not deterred most artists to continue practicing it. | | | | replaced by Baroque painting which used the |
| The Prehistoric times saw paintings of animals in | | | | elements of dynamic pose, gesture and |
| the walls of the caves of primitive men. The | | | | composition as well as the sharp contrast |
| Egyptians decorated tombs with scenes depicting | | | | between light and shadow. The style of the 18th |
| the dead man's family and possessions. The more | | | | century exalts color, light and movement and |
| lively Minoan painting was used to decorate | | | | bordered on the frivolous and concern with |
| stuccoed walls of palaces. Mycenaean culture | | | | pleasure. It was during the latter part of the |
| changed this painting to depict conquests and | | | | period that artists began to paint for themselves |
| hunts. Classical Greek paintings have simplified | | | | rather than to please the church. The 19th |
| forms and geometric patterns. Etruscan painting | | | | century gave rise to Romanticism, Realism and |
| put emphasis on silhouettes, ornamental contour | | | | Impressionism. Expressionism, Fauvism, Cubism, |
| and design. There was a new interest in emotional | | | | Dada, Surrealism and Non-Objective art are all |
| and psychological effects as seen on Roman | | | | products of the 20th century. |
| painting. Early Christian painting rejected illusionism | | | | Time has produced several styles, each a |
| where modeling was replaced by flat decorative | | | | reflection of what happened during a certain |
| patters. The Byzantine style combined elements | | | | period. This is why a painting is able to provide |
| of Greek, Roman and Eastern art. Much of the | | | | anyone with a rich visual experience that cannot |
| decoration was done in Mosaic which was highly | | | | be found anywhere else. You can only learn to |
| favored due to its durability. Islamic artists | | | | appreciate a painting by reading and studying |
| created ornamental designs called arabesques | | | | information about artists, styles and periods. From |
| because the Islam religion forbade representation | | | | there, you will see each work and the particular |
| of human beings in art. Chinese and Japanese | | | | point of view as seen by the artist himself. |
| painting revealed the constant extraordinarily | | | | Tom Takihi is the proud owner of the Discover |
| skillful use of the brush. | | | | Network. For more information on this topic, |
| Early medieval painting is characterized by Celtic, | | | | please visit the dedicated portal website. |