| Art and culture are intricately linked. Different | | | | forms of painting, used primarily for decorative |
| regions and traditions have their own distinctive | | | | purposes. Baroque somewhat revived the artistic |
| styles. In fact, art forms are the expressions of | | | | inclination towards Church and religion. Light played |
| lifestyle and folklore, but not limited to them. | | | | a major role in adding a dramatic appeal to the |
| Western Painting refers to the art style prevalent | | | | deeply rich color schemes and detailed subjects. |
| in the western part of the world. However, it | | | | Rembrandt van Rijn, Jan Vermeer, Peter Paul |
| cannot be said to be insulated from the Eastern | | | | Rubens, and Artemesia Gentileschi, were among |
| influence. Broadly, it can be divided into eons, with | | | | the noted Baroque artists. Rococo painting is |
| the most antique forms coming from Egypt, | | | | regarded as an art of elegance, which carried the |
| Greece, and Rome. The Egyptian and Greek | | | | bright colors of nature, and an apt use of light, |
| remained the epitome of ancient painting. | | | | unlike the 'darker' portrayals of Baroque painting. |
| However, Roman and French painters had the | | | | Romanticism developed as counterforce to the |
| most defining influence on the world of art. These | | | | period marked by industrialization and scientific |
| artists blended the traditional with the | | | | discoveries. It strongly propounded the emotional |
| experimental, sometimes innovating entirely new | | | | aspects of life. Magnificent pieces, 'Wanderer |
| genres. This kept the Western Painting into an | | | | above the Sea of Fog' and 'Liberty Leading the |
| ever-evolving state, providing the inspiration for | | | | People,' were among the masterpieces of this |
| some of the timeless creations, in the course. | | | | time. |
| The Egyptian Art consisted of mural paintings in | | | | Impressionist and Post-Impressionist movements |
| palaces and temples, often featuring Pharaohs | | | | were founded on the philosophy that Realist |
| dynasties. They were set in fast colors like bright | | | | movement did not involve imagination, the |
| red and often carried 'Symbolic' meaning rather | | | | essential ingredient in the faculty of Fine Arts. |
| than mundane interpretations. The Greeks, on the | | | | Both used short and thick brush strokes of |
| other hand, were the masters of Realism, known | | | | vibrant colors. However, Post-Impressionists |
| for their meticulous representation that gave the | | | | believed in straighter and simplistic forms with |
| impression of 'real.' Ancient Roman Art inherited | | | | defined outlines, unlike Impressionists. Claude |
| the essence of the Greek Painting. Medieval Art | | | | Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Arshile Gorky, Mary |
| had its roots in religion, especially, Christianity. | | | | Cassatt, Edgar Degas, Paul Gauguin, Paul |
| Almost all of the works centered on the | | | | Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh were the |
| mythological subjects and the life of Christ. | | | | frontrunners of these styles. Expressionist |
| Frescos adorning the churches and Byzantine | | | | movement rejected the philosophies of |
| courts are reminiscent of this era. | | | | Impressionism, which centered on simple physical |
| Decorative mosaics in Monreale Cathedral in Sicily | | | | existence. Expressionism believed in the |
| and Ambrogio Lorenzetti's 'The Effects of Good | | | | expression of the energy behind the emotional |
| Government,' in the City Hall of Siena (1338), are | | | | experiences. Edvard Munch's 'The Scream' and |
| often cited as the signature works of those | | | | Franz Marc's 'Fighting Forms,' are some of the |
| times. Artistic brilliance marked the span of | | | | most celebrated Expressionist pieces of all times. |
| Renaissance Painting. It begot some of the | | | | Henri Matisse and Andre Derain's Fauvist |
| greatest talents of all times, such as Leonardo da | | | | movement was short-lived, yet controversial, due |
| Vinci, Sandro Botticelli, Michelangelo, Jan van Eyck, | | | | to its 'wild' color schemes and fantastical designs. |
| Raphael, Hugo van der Goes, and Albrecht | | | | Cubism was the acclaimed style of the early |
| Altdorfer to name some. Similar to Medieval Art, | | | | twentieth century. Pablo Picasso co-founded |
| Renaissance Paintings generously employed rich | | | | Cubism, with geometrical forms and dichromatic |
| colors, such as red, purple, blue, and green for | | | | color schemes marking the style. It was a short |
| their elaborate portrayals. However, Renaissance | | | | span, yet highly significant movement. Abstract |
| artists covered a wider variety of subjects, | | | | Art is one of the most popular forms of Western |
| including religious, royalty, mythology, country life, | | | | Art presently. It is symbolic in nature and |
| portraits, landscapes, and even anatomical studies. | | | | embodies the holistic essence of present living. |
| Baroque and Rococo styles were the ornamental | | | | |