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Good starting source to search and explore known/lesser known artists!

Use ||| scroll bar on side to go to "Art & Artists" to use any of the following resources:

"Artists A-Z"

"Artwork Search"

"Art by Theme"

"Art Terms"

Resource:

https://www.tate.org.uk/search?type=artwork

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Browse more than 4,000 artists represented in the Tate collection

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If you can't find an artist you like through searching on Tate.org - use this list of artists as another starting point.

Pick those that interest you with it's subject matter/message, theme, or visual strength.

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Website: https://www.moma.org/collection/

Go to the "Art and artists" label at the top of the page to search either by artist or by artwork. I highly recommend using both the "A-Z" and "Random" search!

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Website: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection

Benefits of this site include "Advanced Collection Search" - "Highlights" - and "Public Domain Images".

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Check out our research

Conservators and scientists collaborate with curators to study, preserve, and conserve the works in The Met collection.

Get access to The Met's comprehensive publishing program with over 1,500 titles, including books, online publications, and Bulletins and Journals from the last five decades.

Explore more than 1,000 essays on a wide range of topics, including artists, materials, movements, and themes.

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The Met Collection represents more than 5,000 years of art from around the world for everyone to experience and enjoy.

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Artist/Art History: Google Arts and Culture

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Artist/Art History: Google Arts and Culture

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Artist Search: https://artsandculture.google.com/category/artist

Search by Art Medium:

https://artsandculture.google.com/category/medium

Search Art Movements: https://artsandculture.google.com/category/art-movement

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Explore all Artists on Google Arts & Culture.

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Website: https://www.nga.gov/collection.html

Search Artists and Artworks

Explore by Medium

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Open Access Images

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From Byzantine altarpieces to pop art, learn all about paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, photographs, and other works in the collection. Browse the collection and make connections among objects you know and newly discovered masterpieces.

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List of Contemporary Artists: https://onlinegallery.art/en/blog/a-complete-list-of-the-top-100-contemporary-artists-1414/

Artist Search: https://onlinegallery.art/en/artists/

Artwork Search:

https://onlinegallery.art/en/artworks/

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A Complete list of the Top 100 Contemporary Artists | Online Gallery

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Dive into the realm of artistic brilliance with our exclusive list featuring the Top 100 Contemporary Artists.

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Website: https://ocula.com/

Search by Artists, Exhibits, Artworks (Medium), and Galleries

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Art History Timeline — A Guide to Western Art Movements

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Art history timeline from primitive cave paintings to contemporary work, including the main characteristics and artists of each art movement.

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Click on the yellow links of the Art Periods to learn more about that era of Art History.

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For as long as we have been able to use our hands, we have been creating unique artworks that document our context and state of mind. From early cave paintings to the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, human artistic expression can tell us a lot about the lives of the people who created it. To fully appreciate the cultural, social, and historical significance of different artworks, you need to be aware of the art history timeline and the major periods that shaped it. This article presents an overview of the most significant eras of creation and the historical contexts from which they originated.
Art Eras: Tracing the Earliest Art Periods

The earliest artworks have been identified as Paleolithic cave paintings, which date back to roughly 40,000 years ago. There have been many discoveries that document human activity from this period and have taken shape in many spectacular rock shelter paintings and drawings. While it is unclear as to the reasons why early humans began to produce art, it has remained a consistent practice for centuries. Scholars narrow down the purposes of early art as a tool for recording the early cultures, experiences, and local narratives, such that these images and stories were passed onto the next generation.

These prehistoric rock paintings are in Manda Guéli Cave in the Ennedi Mountains, Chad, Central Africa. Camels have been painted over earlier images of cattle, perhaps reflecting climatic changes; David Stanley from Nanaimo, Canada, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Despite the many exquisite examples of early artistic expression, the official history of art was recognized by the Romanesque era. Official art era timelines do not include cave paintings, sculptures, and other works of art from the Stone Age or the beautiful frescos produced in Egypt and Crete around 2000 BCE.

The reason behind this is that these early eras of artistic expression were bound to a relatively small geographical space. The official art eras that we will be discussing today span many countries and have mostly originated in Europe and parts of North and South America. Despite their lack of official recognition, these earliest examples of human artistic flair raise a lot of interesting questions. Where did early humans learn to draw so realistically, what inspired early humans to create art, and was art a practice that was taught in prehistoric civilizations?

Reviewing the Timeline of the Different Art Periods

As with many areas of human history, it is impossible to delineate the different art periods with precision. The dates presented in the brackets below are approximations based on the progression of each movement across several countries. Many of the art periods overlap considerably, with some of the more recent eras occurring at the same time. Some eras last for a few thousand years while others span less than 10 years. Art is a continuous process of exploration, where more recent periods grow out of existing ones.

Art from ancient Greece, including its many temples, ruins, and archaeological sites have provided us with insight into the Classical styles that shaped the Western canon of art for centuries. It may seem strange for our account of the art period timeline to end 30 years ago. The concept of an art era seems inadequate to capture the variety of artistic styles that have grown since the turn of the 21st century.

There is a feeling among some art historians that the traditional concept of painting has died in our era of fast-track living and digital expanse, however, it would be unwise to think that traditional mediums do not have a place in the 21st century. We continue to share our unique human experiences through the medium of art, just as the cave people did outside of our modern system of classification.

A Comprehensive Art Movement Timeline

It is time to dive a little deeper into the social, cultural, and historical contexts of each of the distinct art eras we presented above. You will see how many eras take influence from those before them. Art, like human consciousness, is continuously evolving. It is also important to note that this art timeline is a history of Western and predominantly European art.

The Byzantine Era (330 - 1453): Eastern Roman Empire and Christianization

Byzantine art was a period of increased religious art production that was inspired by the Christianization of Greek culture and the prevailing art styles of the Roman Empire. The Byzantine art period commenced around 330 CE and lasted until 1453. Influential themes on this period included scenes from Greek Hellenistic mythology and Christian literature. Byzantine art is usually categorized into three distinct periods: the Early Byzantine, Middle Byzantine, and Late Byzantine eras.

The styles found in Byzantine painting were religious and devotional, and included angular contours, flat colors, and a distinct gold backdrop. Byzantine styles of the Roman Empire infiltrated architecture and other art forms such as mosaic making, interior decor, and religious buildings as reminders to society of the Christian faith, which promoted "the path to salvation". Centers such as Constantinople were the hub of artistic expression since it was the center of the Byzantine Empire and the Catholic Church.

The Romanesque Period (1000 - 1300): Sharing Information Through Art

Art historians typically consider the Romanesque art era to be the start of the art history timeline. Romanesque art developed during the rise of Christianity around 1000 CE. During this time, only a small percentage of the European population were literate. The ministers of the Christian church were typically part of this minority, and to spread the message of the bible, they needed an alternative method.

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 CE, art shifted from the ideals of Classical Greek and Roman art styles to focus on religious art promoted by Christianity. Christian objects, stories, deities, saints, and ceremonies were the exclusive subject of most Romanesque paintings and were intended on educating the masses about the values and beliefs of the Christian Church.

Due to the Christian purpose behind Romanesque paintings, they are almost always symbolic. The relative importance of the figures within the paintings is shown by the size, with the more important figures appearing much larger. You can see that human faces are often distorted, and the stories depicted in these paintings tend to have a high emotional value.

Romanesque paintings often include mythological creatures like dragons and angels, and almost always appear in churches. At the most fundamental level, paintings of the Romanesque period serve the purpose of spreading the word of the bible and Christianity. The name of this art era stems from round arches used in Roman architecture, often found in churches of the time.

Altar frontal from Avià, c. 1200; Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Gothic Era (1100 - 1500): Freedom and Fear Unite

One of the most famous eras, Gothic art grew out of the Romanesque period in France and is an expression of two contrasting feelings of the age. On the one hand, people were experiencing and celebrating a new level of freedom of thought and religious understanding. On the other, there was a fear that the world was coming to an end. You can clearly see the expression of these two contrasting tensions within the art of the Gothic period.

Just as in the Romanesque period, Christianity lay at the heart of the tensions of the Gothic era. As more freedom of thought emerged, and many pushed against conformity, the subjects of paintings became more diverse. The stronghold of the church began to dissipate.

Gothic paintings portrayed scenes from real life such as laborers in the field and hunting scenes. The focus moved away from divine beings and mystical creatures and tended towards the essence of what it meant to be human.

Human figures received a lot more attention during the Gothic period. Gothic artists fleshed out more realistic human faces, as they became more individual and less two-dimensional. The development of a three-dimensional perspective is thought to have facilitated this change. Painters also paid more attention to subjects of personal value such as clothing, which was typically portrayed realistically.

Duccio di Buoninsegna; The Raising of Lazarus (1310-1311) by Duccio di Buoninsegna, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Many historians believe that part of the reason why the subjects of art became more diverse during the Gothic era was due to the increased surface area for painting within churches. Gothic churches were more expansive than those of the Romanesque period, which was thought to represent the increased feelings of freedom at this time.

Alongside the newfound freedom of artistic expression, there was a deep fear that the end of the world was fast-approaching. This was accompanied by a gradual decline in faith in the church, which spurred the expansion of art outside of the church. In fact, towards the end of the Gothic era, works by Hieronymus von Bosch, Breughel, and others were unsuitable for placement within a church.

We do not know many individual artists who painted in the Romanesque period, as art was not about who painted it but rather the message it carried. Thus, the move away from the church can also be seen in the enormous increase in known artists from the Gothic period, including Giotto di Bondone. Schools of art began to emerge throughout France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and other parts of Europe.

The Renaissance Era (1420 - 1520): The Revival of Humanism

The Renaissance era is possibly one of the most well-known, featuring artists like Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. This era continued to focus on the individual human as its inspiration and took influence from the art and philosophy of the ancient Romans and Greeks. The Renaissance can be seen as a cultural rebirth and is usually understood as consisting of several art movements across Europe.

Sandro Botticelli was among the most popular early Renaissance painters, who was later rediscovered by the artists of the pre-Raphaelite movement. Early Renaissance styles of sculpture were further developed by artists such as Donatello, who was inspired by Classical sculpture and was considered to be one of the greatest sculptors in Florence.

A part of this cultural rebirth was the returned focus on the natural and realistic world in which humans lived. The three-dimensional perspective became even more important to the art of the Renaissance, as is aptly demonstrated by Michelangelo's statue of David. This statue harkened back to the works of the ancient Greeks as it was consciously created to be seen from all angles. Statues of the last two eras had been two-dimensional, intended to be viewed only from the front.

Michelangelo's David (1501-1504); Livioandronico2013, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The same three-dimensional perspective carried over into the paintings of the Renaissance era. Frescoes that were invented 3000 years prior were revived by Renaissance painters. Compositions became more complex and the representation of humans became much more nuanced. Renaissance artists painted human bodies and faces in three dimensions with a strong emphasis on Realism.

The paint used during the Renaissance period also represented a shift from tempera paint to oil paint. The Renaissance period is often credited as the very start of great Dutch landscape paintings. Among the leading painters of the Italian High Renaissance was Raphael, who alongside Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, encompassed the essence of ideal Renaissance styles and values.

Mannerism (1520 - 1600): A Window into the Future of Kitsch

Of course, this heading is partly in jest. Not all of the art produced in this era is what we would understand today as "kitsch". What we understand kitsch to mean today is often artificial, cheaply made, and without much 'classic' taste. Instead, the reason we describe the art of this period as being kitsch is due to the relative over-exaggeration that characterized it. Stemming from the newfound freedom of human expression in the Renaissance period, artists began to explore their own unique and individual artistic style, or manner.

The S-shaped curve of the human body that characterizes the Renaissance style was transformed into an unnatural contortion of the body. This was the first European style that attracted artists from across Europe to its birthplace in Italy.

Parmigianino; Madonna with Long Neck (1534-1540) by Parmigianino, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Baroque Era (1590 - 1760): The Glorification of Power and the Deception of the Eye

The progression of art celebrating the lives of humans over the power of the divine continued into the Baroque era. Kings, princes, and even popes began to prefer to see their own power and prestige celebrated through art than that of God. The over-exaggeration that classified Mannerism also continued into the Baroque period, with the scenes of paintings becoming increasingly unrealistic and magnificent.

Baroque paintings depicted scenes with monarchs ascending into the heavens, mingling with angels, and reaching closer to the divinity and power of God. Here, we really can see the progression of human self-importance, and although the subject matter does not move away entirely from religious symbolism, man was increasingly the central power within Baroque compositions.

New materials that glorify wealth and status like gold and marble become the prized materials for sculptures. Opposites of light and dark, warm and cold colors, and symbols of good and evil are emphasized beyond what is naturally occurring. Art academies increased in their numbers, as art became a way to display your wealth, power, and status.

Baroque ceiling frescoes of Cathedral in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Work of Italian master Giulio Quaglio in 1703-1706 and later 1721-1723; Petar Milošević, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Prominent artists of the Baroque period included figures like Caravaggio who was considered to be the master of light and chiaroscuro painting. Caravaggio amplified the concepts of divinity and human grandeur through his striking use of contrast in portraiture and religious painting. Another prolific master of Baroque portraiture was Rembrandt, whose theatrical self-portraits continue to inspire many painters who admire the traditions of Baroque art.

The Rococo Art Period (1725 - 1780): French Aristocracy

The paintings from the Rococo era are typical of the French aristocracy of the time. The name stems from the French word rocaille which means "shellwork". The solid forms which characterized the Baroque period softened into light, air, and desire. Paintings of this era were no longer strong and powerful, but light and playful.

The colors were lighter and brighter, almost transparent in some instances. Many pieces of art from this period neglected religious themes, although some artists like Tiepolo did create frescos in many churches.

Much like the attitude of the French aristocracy of the time, the art of the Rococo period was totally removed from social reality. The shepherd's idyll became the leading theme of this period, representing life as light and carefree, without the constraints of economic or social hardship.

Classicism (1770 - 1840): A Throwback to Classicism

Classicism, like the Rococo era, began in France in around 1770. In contrast to the Rococo era, however, Classism reverted to earlier, more serious styles of artistic expression. Much like the Renaissance period, Classisim took inspiration from classic Roman and Greek art.

The art created in the Classicism era reverted to strict forms, two-dimensional colors, and human figures. The tone of these paintings was undoubtedly strict. Colors lost their symbolism. The art produced in this era was used internationally to instill feelings of patriotism in the people of each nation. Parts of Classicism include Louis-Sieze, Empire, and Biedermeier.

Romanticism (1790 - 1850): Adding More Feeling to Art

You can see from the dates that this art era occurred at around the same time as Classicism. Romanticism is often seen as an emotionally charged reaction to the stern nature of Classicism. In contrast to the strict and realistic nature of the Classicism era, the paintings of the Romantic era were much more sentimental.

There is no tangible or precisely determinable style to the art of the Romanticism period. English and French painters tended to focus on the effects of shadows and lights, while the art produced by German painters tended to have more gravity of thought to them. The Romantic painters were often criticized and even mocked for their interpretation of the world around them.

Realism (1850 - 1925): Objectivity over Subjectivity

As the Romanticism era was a reactionary movement to the Classicism period before it, so is Realism a reaction to Romanticism. In contrast to the beautiful and deeply emotional content of Romantic paintings, Realist artists presented both the good and beautiful, the ugly and evil. The reality of the world is presented in an unembellished way by Realism painters.

These artists attempt to show the world, people, nature, and animals, as they truly appeared. In Realism, there was a focus on the "obligation of art into truth", as phrased by Gustave Courbet.

Just as with Romanticism, Realism was not popular with everyone. The paintings are not particularly pleasing to the eye and some critics have commented that despite the artist's claims of Realism, erotic scenes somehow miss the real eroticism. Goethe criticizes Realism, saying that art should be ideal, not realistic. Schiller also calls Realism "mean", indicating the harshness that many of the paintings portrayed.

Proudhon and His Children (1865) by Gustave Courbet; Gustave Courbet, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Impressionism (1850 - 1895): Heralding the Era of Modern Art

Historians often paint the Impressionist movement as the beginning of the modern age. Impressionist art is said to have closed the book on Classical art and was one of the most easily recognizable art periods of the 20th century. Featuring artists like Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh, Impressionism broke away from the smooth brush strokes and areas of solid color that characterized many art periods before it.

Initially, the word Impressionism was like a swear word in the art world, with critics believing that these artists did not paint with technique, but rather simply smeared paint onto a canvas. The brushstrokes indeed were a significant departure from those that came before them, sometimes becoming furiously expressive. Distinct shapes and lines disappeared into a whirlwind of colors. Individual dots of completely new colors were put together, particularly in the Pointillism variety of Impressionist paintings. The subjects of Impressionist paintings could often only be recognized from a distance.

View of Vetheuil sur Seine (1880) by Claude Monet; Claude Monet, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

A significant change that occurred during the Impressionist era was that painting began to take place en-plein-air or outside. Much of the Impressionists' ability to capture the complex and ever-changing colors of the natural world were a result of this shift. Impressionist artists also began to move away from the desire to lecture and teach, preferring to create art for art's sake. Galleries and international exhibitions became increasingly important to the spread of such philosophies in art and painting.

Symbolism (1886 - 1900): There is Always More Than Meets the Eye

Between 1886 and 1900, the era of Symbolism began to emerge in France as a literary movement that soon influenced the world of visual art. Artists became preoccupied with the representation of feelings and thoughts through objects. The common themes of the Symbolism movement included death, sickness, sin, and passion. The forms were mostly clear, a fact which art historians believe was in anticipation of the Art Nouveau era.

Post-Impressionism (1886 - 1905): Expression Over Naturalism

The post-Impressionist period followed the era of Impressionism and was defined by its rejection of Naturalism as it applied to the representation of color and expression. The art movement was also coined by the 20th century art critic Roger Fry in 1910 and was a term used to describe the development of art after the styles proposed by Édouard Manet. Post-Impressionism embraced the idea of deep symbolism rather than the mere representation of optical impressions drawn from nature.

Although these artists operated independently, their works possess similarities that differ from the norms of Impressionism and offer a more emotionally charged atmosphere. While artists like Georges Seurat created his own unique style of painting, traditional mediums saw the use of innovative techniques that made each of these artists stand out from the rest of the art crowd of the early 20th century. Famous Fauvists such as Henri Matisse was also greatly influenced by the work of renowned post-Impressionists such as Paul Signac and John Russell.

Art Nouveau (1890 - 1910): All That Glitters is Klimt

Although Gustav Klimt was by no means the most important artist in the Art Nouveau movement, he is one of the most well-known. His style perfectly encapsulates the Art Nouveau movement with soft, curved lines, lots of florals, and the stylistic characterization of human figures. In many countries, this style is known as the Secession style.

The art produced in the Art Nouveau period includes a lot of symmetry and is characterized by playfulness and youthfulness. Art Nouveau has a lot of political content, although many critics ignore this and hold the decorative aspects against it. Through the art of the Art Nouveau period, artists attempted to bring nature back into industrial cities.

Expressionism (1890 - 1914): Bringing a Political Edge to the Debate

In the Expressionism art era, we once again see a resurgence of the importance of the expression of subjective feelings. Expressionism originated in Germany and reflected many artists' criticism of power. The artists within this movement were not interested in Naturalism or what things look like on the outside. As a result, there was a tinge of aggression in some Expressionist paintings, which are often archaic and expressive. Wassily Kandinsky was one such Modern artist who leveraged Expressionism styles in his abstract compositions to explore color theory, form, and pure abstraction in painting.

Cubism (1906 - 1914): Distorting Representation

Beginning with two artists, Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, the Cubist movement was all about fragmentation, geometric shapes, and multiple perspectives. The dimensional planes of everyday objects were broken down into different geometric segments and put back together in a way that presented the object from multiple sides simultaneously. Cubism was a rejection of all the rules of traditional Western painting and has had a strong influence on the styles of art that have followed it.

Futurism (1909 - 1945): Artistic Anarchism

Futurism is less of an artistic style and more of an artistically inspired political movement. Founded by Tommaso Marinetti's Futurist Manifesto, which rejected social organization and Christian morality, the Futurist era was full of chaos, hostility, aggression, and anger. Although Marinetti was not a painter himself, painting became the most prominent form of art within the Futurist movement.

These artists vehemently rejected the rules of Classical painting, believing that everything that was passed through generations (beliefs, traditions, religion) was suspicious and dangerous. The militant nature of the Futurist movement resulted in many people believing that it was too closely affiliated with Fascism.

Dadaism (1912 - 1920): Life is Nonsense

Dada means a great many things and nothing at all. The writer Hugo Ball discovered that this small word has several different meanings in different languages and at the same time, as a word, it meant nothing at all. The Dadaism movement is based on the concepts of illogic and provocation and was seen as not only an art movement, but an anti-war movement.

The illogic of existing rules, norms, traditions, and values was called into question by the Dadaist movement. The art movement encompassed several art forms including writing, poetry, dance, and performance art. Part of the movement was to call into question what could be classified as "art". Artists such as Henri-Robert-Marcel Duchamp also leveraged Dadaism and Surrealism to define the foundations of conceptual art, which paved the path forward for later Modern art movements.

Constructivism (1913 - 1930): The Union of Cubism and Futurism

In 1913, the Russian Konstruktivizm movement emerged with the abstract paintings of Vladimir Tatlin, which went on to influence the development of abstract modern art itself. The art period is also recognized as a historical movement that involved the arrangement of geometric forms in a harmonious manner. Painters who explored Constructivism rejected bright colors and expanded the styles found in earlier movements such as Suprematism.

The conceptual theory behind the era was shaped by Jean Piaget, whose work in educational psychology and cognitive development expanded on how humans create meaning and explored the relationships between human experiences and their ideas. The theory also described the idea that human create their own knowledge.

Bold typography and constructed photomontages became the essence of Konstruktivizm with minimal color palettes. The era proved to be incredibly influential in the fields of design and architecture, which shifted from political connotations to a dynamic design style throughout the 1920s. Famous Russian artist Kazimir Malevich also coined the term "Constructivist" while referring to the work of Alexander Rodchenko, a well-known Russian designer.

The Harlem Renaissance (1920 - 1930): The Revival of African-American Culture

The Harlem Renaissance was a decade of significant cultural rebirth for the African-American communities of America in the 1920s. The period was characterized by the recognition and production of intellectual and cultural art forms spanning music, literature, visual art, poetry, politics, dance, and fashion produced by African-American individuals.

The period is also recognized as the New Negro Movement and encompassed a variety of unique Contemporary art styles that focused on relaying the Black experience from a non-Western perspective in light of the historical negation of African-American scholars and artists.

The Harlem Renaissance originated in the New York neighborhood of Harlem, which debuted many cultural icons that promoted African-American culture and the recognition of Black artists in the early 20th century. The period fostered a strong commitment to political activism, which went on to influence important movements such as the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s.

Surrealism (1920 - 1930): Subconscious Realities

As if the pure illogic nature of the movement was not outlandish enough, the Surrealists took the dream world to be the fountain of all truth. One of the most famous Surrealist artists is Salvador Dalí, and you are bound to know his painting Melting Watch (1954).

Sometimes dealing with uncomfortable concepts, hidden desires, and taboos, Surrealism was a direct critique of the ingrained ideas and beliefs of the bourgeoise. As you can imagine, this style of art was not popular when it began, but it has greatly influenced the world of modern art.

Space and time (in homage to L.V. Beethoven) (1974) by Italian painter William Girometti; William Girometti, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

New Objectivity (1925 - 1965): Cold and Technical

The different art periods from the 1960s to the Contemporary era mark the height of Modern art and the development of art styles that proved significantly influential in redefining notions of representation, visual aesthetics, and postwar culture.

The New Objectivity movement of the 1960s turned towards themes that dealt with social and political critique. The turbulence of the war left many people searching for some kind of order to hold onto, and this can be seen clearly in the art of New Objectivity.

The images represented in New Objectivity were often cold, unemotional, and technical, with some common subjects such as the radio and lightbulbs. As is the case with many Modern movements in art, there were several different wings to the New Objectivity movement.

Abstract Expressionism (1948 - 1962): Stepping Away from Europe

The 1960s also produced one of the most impactful art periods shaped by Abstract Expressionism. The art world saw many post-World War II painters from the United States embrace abstract approaches to painting as a means of expressing emotion. Abstract Expressionism is said to be the first art movement to originate outside of Europe. Emerging from North America, Abstract Expressionism focused on color-field painting and action paintings. Rather than using a canvas and a brush, buckets of paint would be poured on the ground, and artists used their fingers to create images.

With well-known artists of the 1960s include figures like Marc Tobey and Jackson Pollock, who piloted the style of the art movement. The application of the paint in Abstract Expressionism was sometimes so thick that the finished piece would take on a form unlike any painting before it. As with all art, there are always critics, with conservative Americans during the cold war calling it "un-American."

Pop Art (1955 - 1969): Art is Everything

For the artists of Pop art period, almost every aspect of popular culture in the world was art. From advertisements, tin cans, toothpaste, and toilets, everything was art. Pop art developed simultaneously in the United States and England and was characterized by uniform blocks of color and clear lines and contours. Painting and graphic art became influenced by Photorealism and serial prints.

One of the most famous English Pop artists was David Hockney, although only a few of his lifetime paintings were in this movement. Another iconic legend of the Pop art era in the 1960s was Andy Warhol, whose most popular artworks were inspired by vivid imagery from popular culture and Hollywood's finest celebrities, including Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor.

A detail of Roy Lichtenstein's Wall Explosion II, 1965; Colin McLaughlin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Neo-Expressionism (1980 - 1989): Modern Fauvism

Starting in the 1980s, Neo-Expressionism emerged with large-format representational and life-affirming paintings. Berlin was a central point for this new movement, and the designs typically featured cities and big-city life. The name Neo-Expressionism emerged from Fauvism, and although the artists in Berlin disbanded in 1989, some artists continued to paint in this style in New York.

We've also created a web story about art periods.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is an Art Period?

In art history, an art period is understood as a particular span of time that encompasses various artists and their artworks, whose works are classified under a particular style or movement within art. Art periods indicate eras of significant change or evolution in the trajectory of art and the way it is understood by society. Art periods usually highlight a focused goal and may encompass multiple art movements.

What Is the Difference Between an Art Period and an Art Movement?

Art movements differ from art periods since art periods are categorized and understood according to time and the different eras they encompass, while art movements are formed by artists in a conscious manner and share a common philosophy. Art periods are used to classify artists according to the style of the time and is a broader category that can encompass more than one art movement.

What Is the Current Art Period Called?

The art period of the present is known as the Contemporary art period, which encompasses art and new styles of art produced from the late-1970s until the current era. The Contemporary art period is characterized by art formed within the context of a globalized and technologically advanced era.

Why Was the Renaissance Art Period Important?

The Renaissance art period is a broad art era that is considered significant for the many cultural changes that occurred in multiple disciplines in Europe. The era was recognized as a widespread period of cultural rebirth that saw the revival of Classical subjects across philosophy, literature, visual art, and science. The Renaissance also included the Northern Renaissance, which occurred from the late-15th century and spread to the North of the Alps. The Northern Renaissance was considered particularly important since it birthed many advanced oil painting techniques and approaches in printmaking.

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Art Periods - A Detailed Look at the Art History Timeline

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Important Art Periods ✔ Exploring the Art Periods Timeline ✔ A Comprehensive Look at the Art History Timeline ✔ Significant Art Eras ✔

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Tips for producing an amazing high school art sketchbook

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This article contains tips, examples, and advice from an experienced teacher, outlining best practice for sketchbook content, page layout, and presentation. For students studying qualifications such as GCSE Art, A Level Art, IB Visual Art, and NCEA Scholarship.

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In this post, I'd like to demonstrate my process for sketching concepts for a client. I'm not talking about sketching with the intent of making a beautiful drawing, where line weight and texture matter. Nor am I talking about making a realistic one. I'm talking about sketching very rough concepts that quickly convey your idea to a client. In essence, these are just elaborate thumbnails.

It seems to me that a lot of students have trouble sketching thumbnails. They either don't spend enough time on them, or often times skip the phase entirely. The result is, they spend even more time repeatedly revising a painting that was flawed from the start, when a much better option was just a few scribblings away. Part of me suspects they either don't realize the importance of this phase, or avoid it because they simply do not know how to approach it.

Sketching thumbnails should be fun, and easy. There are as many approaches to doing it as there are artists. My method is just one of them, and by no means the best solution. I'm sharing an approach that works for me, in the hopes that it will demystify the process for some of you.

I used to do all of my sketching in pencil, but found that I drew too linearly when I did so, almost comicbook-like. For some styles, that's fine. But because I paint realistically, and there are no actual 'lines' in my finished works, I found it to be an ineffective method. Things that looked really good in my sketch fell flat in the final because they did not have the strong impact of a line holding it all together.

Instead, I now do all my sketching digitally. This allows me to 'paint' my sketches. Amorphous blobs of grey gradually come together to reveal forms and space. This translates a LOT easier to my painting style.

The choice to sketch digitally is personal preference due to my own habits. You may not have the same problems with pencil that I do, and may find better success drawing traditionally. That's fine. The medium here is absolutely irrelevant. It's the approach that matters.

In an earlier post, I talked about Value Structure, and how by simplifying your composition into 3 or 4 basic values helps increase legibility, and creates a more believable sense of depth. This method is not something you just implement at the end of painting. It is, in fact, how I start all of my compositions.

Let's begin by taking 4 simple values... white, near white, near black, and black. By eliminating a true midtone, I force myself to make everything in my composition either light or shadow. This makes for stronger, more striking compositions.

I am going to start with the white of the canvas, and gradually build upon that.

Let's add in some near whites. This part is very experimental, just reckless scribbling, until I find something appealing.

Now onto the near blacks. Again, this is just stream of consciousness scribbling until I stumble across something nice.

Already you can see that the sketch has depth and a strong silhouette. In just 30 seconds, and only three values, I managed to create a fairly legible composition. Let's keep going and add some blacks.

At this point, you can stop.

Seriously, that's it.

This is as detailed as your thumbnails ever need to be. After this, everything else is just embellishment. If your composition isn't working at this point, all the details in the world aren't going to make it any better. If your composition isn't good enough for you, do another.. and another... and another! You can easily bang out 20 of these in an hour, and I encourage you to do so.

Thumbnails... easy-peasy, right?

So what happens if you do like the thumbnail? Sketching always seems to be some personal form of hieroglyphs for me, and even though I may understand what's going on, someone else may not. So if I decide to submit this composition to a client, I need to refine it a bit further still.

Let's start by scribbling in some details, so people can tell what all this junk actually is.

Since I started the composition with such a strong value structure, I can easily add gradients and details on top of that, without fear of losing the impact of the piece. This strong value structure will also prevail if I decide to add color to my sketch.

Remember that previous post about Temperature Structure? Well, let's implement it! The idea is no different than value structure. Let's place some warm, near warm, near cool, and cool tones on top of this sketch. The values are still doing all the work, but the temperature shift just pushes their effect even further.

Let's add a few more details, some highlights to snazz it up... and voila!

It's still pretty sloppy, but honestly this is usually about as detailed as my finished sketches get. I tend to submit 3 or 4 sketches like this for my clients to choose from. If I really want to impress them, I may go in and refine things a bit a further, but it's really not necessary. A good Art Director knows what to expect from his/her Illustrator, and should be able to envision what the finish product will look like.

So that's it.

The next time you're working on a new composition, challenge yourself to do as many rough sketches as possible, at least 20. And remember to be fearless! There is no need to refine and be precious about every little step. In the time you spend fussing with one bad thumbnail, you could have done 3 more!

I tend to think of it like panning for gold. You have to sift through a whole lot of crap before you find that one sparkling nugget that makes it all worth it!

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In this post, I'd like to demonstrate my process for sketching concepts for a client. I'm not talking about sketching with the intent of making a beautiful drawing, where line weight and texture matter. Nor am I talking about making a realistic one.

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A tour of what thumbnails are, how they are used, and how you can create your own. What is a Thumbnail Sketch? A thumbnail sketch is a very small sketch no larger than an inch in size. Artists use thumbnail sketches to check that their desired composition will be readable when they create their artwork in full scale. The human eye can only hyper focus on about an inch of space at a time. If an artist can’t see what is happening in their drawing on a small scale it will also be hard to interpret at a larger scale. Using thumbnail sketches can save an artist a lot of time and effort in the long run by fixing critical composition mistakes before they happen.

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Last Updated on November 29, 2021

High school art students often have to submit sketchbooks, art journals, or other preparatory material that includes writing as well as visual material. This annotation plays an important role in how examiners assess and respond to your work. Although each qualification has their own assessment criteria and requirements, almost all high school art programs have similar standards and expectations when it comes to annotation. This article sets out best practice when it comes to producing outstanding sketchbook annotation, and includes examples from students who achieved excellent results around the world. It is likely to be particularly helpful for students who are wondering how to annotate an A Level Art sketchbook, those wishing to conduct formal analysis for an IB Visual Arts Process Portfolio, or those looking for GCSE Art annotation examples.

Want more guidance? Some of this material and much more is in our new book: Outstanding High School Sketchbooks. This book has high-resolution images so that fine details and annotation are clear, making it an excellent resource for students and schools. Learn more!

Communicate intentions

It is helpful to begin a sketchbook by discussing your intentions, initial ideas, or design brief, including any requirements and restrictions set for the project. (Some students also include brainstorming and mind maps at this stage of their project).

This sketchbook annotation example by Ashleigh Stephenson provides a clear introduction to her project, outlining initial intentions and explaining how she has interpreted and approached her theme. This is part of Ashleigh's OCR AS Level Art and Design project, which was awarded A* grade, at Hessle High School and Sixth Form College.

This annotation example is part of a sketchbook page by Halima Akhtar, completed while studying Edexcel AS Level Textiles at Woldingham School. In this excerpt, Halima introduces her theme and the techniques and processes she intends to explore. This is part of exam project that was awarded A* overall. You may wish to view more of Halima's outstanding textiles projects.

This is an enlarged detail from an IB Visual Art Process Portfolio by Enrico Giori, completed while studying at St Louis School. Enrico outlines the intentions for this section of work, describing his rationale for drawing human hands. The annotation helps the examiner immediately understand what the project is about and why Enrico has chosen to explore this subject-matter. Enrico was awarded level 7, and achieved full marks in his IB Visual Arts course. You may wish to view more of Enrico's excellent IB Visual Arts project.

Demonstrate subject-specific knowledge

Aim to communicate your thoughts in an informed, knowledgeable manner, using a range of art-related vocabulary and terminology. This knowledge may be the result of formal classroom lessons, individual research, or personal art-making experience.

This A Level Art sketchbook annotation from ACG Strathallan College contains examples of subject-specific terminology, such as "pastiche", "impasto", and "stippled". This communicates a sound knowledge of the subject-matter and demonstrates an excellent understanding of different painting techniques.

This sketchbook annotation example is by Allison Ho, completed as part of her IB Visual Arts Diploma at Sha Tin College, for which she was awarded level 7. This sketchbook page contrasts and compares the work of Cane Dojcilovic and Pat Perry. Note how keywords are highlighted, ensuring that important terms and subject-specific vocabulary are easily visible, and quickly brought to the attention of the examiner.

This is an IGCSE sketchbook page from an architectural project by Emily Bolam, completed while studying at ACG Parnell College. Annotation discusses ergonomic and environmental considerations, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of subject-specific terminology.

Include personal responses

Aim to record personal reflections, evaluations, and judgments, rather than regurgitating facts or the views of others. The aim is to provide insights into your thinking and decision-making processes. Visual art examiners do not want to read long lists of facts, excessively detailed descriptions of technical processes, extensive artist biographies, or long-winded passages documenting broad periods of art history. Use research to inform your own responses. It is not acceptable to copy written information directly from other sources, although small portions may be quoted and referenced.

This annotation excerpt is from an Edexcel AS Level Art and Design (Fine Art) project (awarded A grade) by Anya Emmons, completed while studying at University College School. Anya describes the ideas and emotions behind her work, and how the choice of layout, arrangement, style and use of materials helps to communicate these ideas.

This enlarged detail is from an IB Visual Art Process Portfolio (awarded level 7) by Enrico Giori, completed while studying at St Louis School. The typed annotation provides formal analysis of the artmaking process, allowing insight into Enrico's thinking and ideas. You may wish to view more of Enrico's excellent IB Visual Arts project.

This Edexcel A Level Art annotation example is by Emily Fielding, completed while studying at Kennet School. Emily references the work of Chris Vector, revealing why she made particular aesthetic decisions within her artwork - explaining choices regarding color and tone. Emily was awarded 100% (A*) for A Level Art - you may wish to view more of her excellent A2 coursework project.

This AQA A Level Art sketchbook annotation is by Daisy Wrigley, completed while studying at St Mary's Catholic High School. Referencing the work of Crystal Neubauer, Daisy explains why she has used particular media, and how these choices support the intentions within her work. Daisy achieved 98% for A Level Art.

This annotation example is by Cecilia Rafanan, completed while studying VCE Art at Caroline Chisholm Catholic College. Cecilia clearly explains the intentions behind her visual exploration, providing insight into her thinking and decision-making process. Again, note how key phrases have been highlighted, quickly drawing these to the attention of the examiner.

Avoid the obvious

Self-explanatory statements-such as 'this is a drawing of a shoe'-are unnecessary. Such comments do not communicate any new information to the examiner.

This Edexcel GCSE Art annotation example is by Alisha Khanna, from Highclare School. Rather than making simple statements about what has been drawn, Alisha explains why she has completed the drawing, and provides insights into her thoughts and intentions. This is part of Alisha's GCSE Art exam, for which she was awarded 94%.

Communicate with clarity

Write in a succinct and clear manner. A sketchbook should not contain endless pages of waffle; this wastes the examiner's time as well as your own. You can record thoughts in any combination of legible formats: mind maps, questions, bulleted summaries, or complete sentences and paragraphs. Whichever format you choose, avoid 'txt' language and ensure that you proofread for spelling errors. These indicate carelessness and may suggest that the work belongs to a low-caliber student.

Don't feel you have to write in full sentences. Noting key words or phrases can be just as effective.
Annotating your work, GCSE, Art & Design, BBC Bitesize Guides

This A Level Art sketchbook annotation is by Nikau Hindin, from ACG Parnell College. Rather than writing in full sentences, Nikau jots down brief thoughts about artwork by New Zealand artist Kelcy Taratoa, recording ideas about the composition in summarized format, with arrows linking comments to relevant areas of the artwork. Abbreviated comments of this nature can be all that is required, and provide an effective way to quickly communicate key ideas to the examiner. You may wish to see more of Nikau's outstanding A* (98%) A Level Art project.

This example of sketchbook annotation is part of a Cambridge A Level Art and Design (Painting) project completed by Jiwon Im, while studying at Macleans College. Jiwon analyses the work of New Zealand artist Susanne Kerr using arrows and brief comments. Note how these comments are rich in subject-specific terminology and quickly communicate a thorough understanding of composition to the examiner. Jiwon was awarded Top in the World for her 99% AS Art and Design submission and 96% for A Level overall. You may be interested in viewing more of Jiwon's excellent A Level Art project.

An example of AQA A Level Art and Design annotation (awarded grade A) by Sinéad Kirby, completed while studying at The Marist School. Again, see how the annotation is abbreviated, communicating ideas succinctly and clearly.

These Edexcel GCSE Art sketchbook annotations are by Shreya Rane, completed while studying at West Island School. Quick responses and evaluations are jotted around the accompanying photograph. Note how the brief comments are rich in art-related terminology and demonstrate close analysis of the image. Shreya was awarded A* (100%) for GCSE Art.

Reference all images, text, and ideas from other sources

All content from other sources should be formally acknowledged and credited. This is true even when you are interpreting the content rather than directly copying it. It is helpful to cite the artist underneath the relevant image (artist name, artwork title, media, date, and image source). Also, provide brief details about any visits to studios, galleries, or museums, noting that you visited in person. Label any original photographs so that it is clear to the examiner which images are your own.

It is good practice for students to get in the habit of clearly crediting all work from others. This is an excerpt of an Edexcel GCSE Art and Design sketchbook by Justine Ho, West Island School. Underneath the image by Jim Dine, Justine has clearly written the name, date, and source of the image. Justine was awarded A* (100%) for GCSE Art.

This is an excerpt of IB Visual Arts analysis by Allison Ho (awarded level 7), completed while studying at Sha Tin College. Allison credits the artist, and documents the image source, immediately alongside the work by Cindy Bernhard.

Critically analyze artwork

Art analysis is an integral component of most high school art programs. Make sure you also analyze your own artwork, appraising the outcomes against your original intentions and the assessment objectives. These insights should inform and influence subsequent work.

In this example, IB Visual Arts student Samantha Li, of West Island School, analyses the artwork of Lucian Freud. Rather than regurgitating facts about the artist, Samantha records her own personal response to the artwork, with annotation rich in subject-specific terminology. You may also wish to view Samantha's 100% GCSE Art project.

This is part of an A* (98%) IGCSE Art and Design coursework project by Nikau Hindin, analyzing the work of New Zealand artist Jason Hicks. Analysis is arranged around photocopies and imitations of Hicks' work. You may wish to view more of Nikau's outstanding IGCSE Art project.

For further assistance with sketchbook annotation, please read our guide to analyzing artwork. This is a comprehensive art annotation help sheet, with art annotation vocabulary formulated into questions to help guide students through how to annotate an artwork.

Need more help with creating a sketchbook?

This article is part of a series we have published about high school sketchbooks. You may also be interested in viewing our other sketchbook resources:

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How to annotate a sketchbook: a guide for art students

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Wondering how to annotate an A Level Art sketchbook, conduct formal analysis for IB Visual Arts, or looking for GCSE Art annotation examples?

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Link to My Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/BeKoePin/advanced-art-sketchbooks/

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Resource from Mrs. Kinslow

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Before 500 ➤ Ancient Art

Egyptian, Greek/Hellenistic and Roman Art

500-1550 ➤ Medieval Art

Early Christian, Celtic, Byzantine, Coptic, Orthodox, Islamic, Romanesque and Gothic.

Includes Early Renaissance with its Late Gothic elements & Northern Renaissance from c. 1450 & Italian Renaissance aka High Renaissance (1492 to 1527). Coincides with Early Netherlandish(1450 to 1600. Also includes Late Renaissance/ Mannerism/ Transitional Period (1520-1600)

THE BEGINNING OF MODERN ART

Includes Neo-Impressionism/ Pointillism/ Divisionism

Includes Abstract Expressionism, De Stijl, Lyrical Abstraction, Rayonism, Suprematism and Op Art
Incl. Minimalism (1960s & 1970s) considered THE LAST MODERN ART MOVEMENT.

From 1920s ➤ Surrealism

1920-1935 ➤ Art Deco

1956-1960s ➤ Pop Art

Photorealism

Considered Contemporary Art

Conceptual Art & Installation Art

Both Considered Contemporary Art/Post-Modern Art
This section includes information about Stuckism, a pro-painting, anti-conceptual art movement.

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Timeline of Art History - Art Movements and Styles

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Timeline of art movements and art styles: Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Impressionism, Surrealism and others. Art history through progress and evolution.

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Resource from Mrs. Kinslow

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Resource from Mrs. Kinslow