Fine arts and Crafts

My goals

By the end of this Unit, I will be able to:

Identify the characteristics of art in some African and

European regions.

⦿ Describe the characteristics of works by renowned artists.

⦿ Appreciate the value of culture in the society.

⦿ Discuss the major art sites in the world.

⦿ Appreciate modern and abstract art.

Introduction

Art reflects people’s way of life. This is majorly because people

create art according to their social, economic and political

background. Therefore, by studying the history of art from

different regions and periods, we can understand the nature

of different societies in the world. This helps us learn about

the works they produced, their methods and techniques, and

the materials they used, in order to boost our creative abilities

as we produce our own art.

For example, look at the change in style of the art works in

Figures 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4 and 7.5.

Activity 1

Observe the art works in Figures 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4 and

7.5, and do the following:

1. Discuss their differences regarding the following aspects;

(a) use of space

(b) subject matter

(c) the light effect in the composition

2. Identify the colours used in these compositions.

3. Mention any paintings from your local area with some of

these characteristics.

The paintings in Figures 7.1 to 7.4 and the sculpture in

Figure 7.5 show the trend of art from the pre-historic, the

renaissance, to the modern and abstract art. Indeed art has

greatly changed and a number of materials discovered to date

in painting, sculpture, pottery, the graphic arts, textile designs

and architecture. But in this unit, we are going to look at

Modern and Abstract Art.

What is Modern Art?

The word modern has been used to refer to the most recent

things as opposed to the past. Sometimes the past is related

to what is traditional. For example in your community, what

do you consider to be the past and what is modern?

Modern art can be traced from the period of industrial

revolution (18th and 19th century). This was a period with

many changes in manufacturing, technology and transport.

These changes greatly affected the cultural, social and

economic conditions of the western world.

Before the 18th century, the church was the major consumer

of art and therefore artists painted compositions from biblical

stories. But as the industrial revolution progressed, people of

the high class begun demanding for art works. Besides, as

people’s way of life changed, artists became more interested

in painting about the people and places which interested

them. Therefore the subject matter changed. For example look

at the painting in Figure 7.6.

Activity 2

Observe the painting in Figure 7.6 and discuss the following

questions:

1. How many people are in the composition?

2. From which direction is light coming from in the

painting?

3. What is the story presented in the composition?

4. From which setting is the action taking place?

5. Draw this composition on a paper and paint it while

trying to copy the colours as they appear in this

painting.

6. Display and discuss your paintings with other groups

Well, some scholars believe that modern art is likely to have

begun with the work of the French painter, Jacques Louis David,

the founder of the style called Neoclassism. He was born in

1748 and died in 1825. He painted various compositions

from stories around French politics and Figure 7.6 is one of

them.

The painting presents a dramatic composition in which three

brothers are saluting toward three swords held up by their

father. At the extreme corner, there are women in grief behind

the father, an indication that they were not in support of their

sons’ joining the army.

A number of art schools had been started and they trained

artists following ideas that were developed in the Renaissance.

Modern art was started by artists who kept working against the

norms learnt from these art schools. Therefore, other scholars

consider modern art as the style of art which existed between

1870 and 1970.

What are the characteristics of modern art?

1. New types of art were formed during this period, for

example; collage art, animation, performance art and kinetic

art.

2. New materials were discovered and used in painting, such

as fixing objects on canvas paintings. Also, found objects

were used in sculpture in form of assemblages.

3. Colour was extensively used for expressive purposes. In

many compositions, colour was used to express the artist’s

ideas.

4. New movements of art were formed, especially in painting.

Activity 3

Discuss the following questions.

1. What is meant by the term Modern Art?

2. What are the common characteristics of Modern Art?

3. Mention four artists’ paintings and four artists in Modern

Art.

A number of art movements were formed as part of “Modern

Art”. These include: impressionism, Fauvism, cubism, pop art,

Dadaism, surrealism and abstract art. We shall discuss some of

these styles as follows.

1. Impressionism

This is a style of painting which was developed in the 19th

century by French artists, such as Edgar Degas, Claude Monet,

Edouard Manet and Auguste Renoir. It is characterized by the

use of short brush strokes, using bright colours with the effect

of light. For example look at Figure 7.7.

2. Fauvism

This is a style of painting which was developed in the 20th

century by a group of French artists who referred to themselves

as “the wild beasts”. The style was based on colour effects and

light with big parches of colour. For example look at Figure

7.8.

3. Cubism

This is another modern art style which was developed in

the 20th century. The style is focused on presenting figures

whose natural forms are simplified into geometric shapes. A

prominent artist who followed this style is Pablo Picasso, one

of his paintings is presented in Figure 7.9.

Activity 4

1. Sketch a composition of an activity of your choice on a

piece of paper.

2. Paint this composition by following any of the styles

discussed so far.

3. Display your paintings and discuss them with the rest of

your classmates.

4. Surrealism

This is a modern art style in which the artist portrays what

seems to be a dream into reality. It was developed during the

20th Century. There is a lot of rearrangement of ideas which

from the natural point of view looks unreal. For example look

at the painting in Figure 7.10.

5. Pop art

This is the type of modern art which is nonrepresentational. It

was developed in the 1950s in Britain and the United States.

It depicts objects and scenes from everyday life. For example,

look at the painting in Figure 7.11.

Figure 7.11: Pop Art

Activity 5

1. Sketch a composition in either surrealism or pop art.

2. Using colours of your choice, paint this composition.

3. Display the paintings and discuss them with friends.

What is Abstract art?

This is a type of modern art which focuses on using forms,

shapes, colours and texture. It does not represent objects as

they appear in nature but according to the artist’s expressive

abilities. For example look at Figures 7.12 and 7.13.

Figure 7.13: Abstract sculpture by B.J. Las v

In Figure 7.12, the artist focused on the use of colour to

create rhythm in the painting. Then in Figure 7.13, the artist

uses geometric shapes to create harmony and unity in the

composition.

Therefore, in abstract art, objects are deformed, simplified

and rearranged to come up with a work of art.

Activity 6

Look at Figures 7.12 and 7.13 and discuss the following:

1. Identify the colours that were used in the abstract

painting.

2. What shapes were used in the sculpture? Relate these

shapes to any natural object from your surroundings.

3. How does abstract art differ from cubism? (refer to

Figures 7.9 and 7.12).

World renowned artists

There are a number of artists who have made significant impact

in the field of art. These include; Michelangelo, Leonardo da

vinci, Pablo Picasso and O’Keeffe. Some of these and their

work, you studied about in Senior One. Let us summarise their

contribution in the following section.

Michelangelo (1475-1564)

An Italian Renaissance artist

who was a painter, sculptor and

architect. He is known for his

mastery if the body structure. He

painted great works in the Sistine

charpel such as creation of Adam

in Figure 7.16.

Leonardo da vinci (1452-1519)

An Italian Renaissance artist who

was a painter and ceramicist. He

is known for his style of making

paintings with no strict outlines

(chiaroscuro). One of his painting is

the monalisa shown in figure 7.17.

Pablo Picasso

A Spanish painter, ceramicist,

sculptor and poet. He is one

of the renowned artists in

the 20th century who is the

founder of cubism. He made

many compositions and

portraits such as Figure 7.20.

Georgia o’Keeffe

An American modern artist who is

known for her paintings depicting

nature. She mainly painted

plants with emphasis on flowers

in brilliant colours for example,

look at Figure 7.19.

Activity 7

1. Discuss the characteristics of art works of the renowned

artists presented in the previous section.

2. Identify some art works from your local area with

characteristics similar to those of the famous artist

discussed.

Major art works in the world

Many art works have been produced by different artists from different

regions of the world. Such works have characteristics which have

influenced the production of art in the world. Some of these art

works include; the fertility goddess (Figure 7.22), The Monalisa

(Figure 7.3), the Sistine charpel (Figure 7.24) and the kangaroo

hunt (Figure 7.23).

Figure 7.22: Fertility goddess

Activity 8

7.24 and discuss the questions that follow:

1. Identify the objects and compositions presented in these

works.

2. List the different colours used.

3. What materials were used in these works?

Major art sites

You studied about the major art sites in the world in Senior

One and discussed some of the art works found in these

places. These places include Altamira in Spain, Lascaux in

France and Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania.

Activity 9

Observe the paintings in Figure 7.25, 7.26 and discuss

the general characteristics of the two paintings.

1. What do you think are the materials used to make these

paintings?

2. Mention the colours that were used in the paintings.

In your discussion, you may have come up with theses

similarities in the paintings at Altamira and Lescaux:

1. Both paintings were made during the Pre-historic period.

2. The painting were done on rocks.

3. The paintings were done in cave ceilings.

4. Animals are the main subject matter of both paintings.

5. Lines were used to draw the shapes of the animals and

filled with colour.

6. The colours used are similar, basically browns and yellow

ocre.

At Olduvai Gorge, it is believed that the oldest man on earth

lived here and his major tools were made of stone. These

tools were discussed in Senior One. Therefore, the similarity

between Olduvai Gorge, Altamira and Lescaux is that the

people who lived in these places used stone as the major tool.

Assessment

1. Discuss five styles that existed in the modern art period.

2. Mention three world renowned artists and state one art

work made by each of them.

3. In which period does Leonardo da vinci belong.

Glossary

Rhythm: a strong, regular repeated pattern of movement

observed from an artwork.

Portrait: a likeness of a person, especially of the face, as

a painting or drawing.

Ceramicist: a person who makes ceramic pieces.

Poet: a person who writes or makes poems.

Architect: a person who designs and supervises the

construction of buildings or other large structures.

Chiaroscuro: an Italian artistic term used to describe the

dramatic effect of contrasting areas of light and

dark in an art work, particularly paintings.

Neoclassism: this refers to a period where there was a revival

of a classical style or treatment in art, literature,

architecture and music.

Renaisance: this a period which started in Italy and spread

to the rest of Europe. It’s a period when artists

revised the style of the classical period in ancient

Rome and ancient Greece.

References

Arnason H.H. (1986). A History of Modern Art. (Third Edition).

Thames and Hudson

Brommer, G.F. & Kinne, N.K. (1995). Exploring Painting. Davis

Publication inc. Worcewster.

Canaday, J. (1987). Mainstreams of Modern Art. (2nd Edition).

Harcourt Brace Jovanovich College Publishers.

Getlein, M. (2008). Living with Art. (Eighth Edition). McGraw-Hill

Companies inc.

Gombrich, G. W. (1995). The Story of Art. Phaidon Press.

Proctor, R.M. & Lew, J.F. (1995). Surface Design for Fabrics.

(Revised Edition). University of Washington Press.

Tansev, R., Kleiner, F. S., De La Croix, H., (2004). Gardner’s Art

through the Ages. (14th Edition). Thames and

Hudson

Tebenkana, T. (2013). Insights into the History of Art. (Volume 3).

Astro Book Binding Center, Kampala

Tebenkana, T. (2013). Crafts and Studio Technology. (A revised

Edition). Astro Book Binding Store. Kampala.