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Religious Dissonance and Baroque Art
The Creation of Man, finished in 1686 by Luca Giordano, is a defining example of the Baroque Period. The Creation of Man depicts a scene both religious and ornate, which were characteristics commonly associated with Baroque art. The painting's extravagance and clear religious themes exemplify how the Roman Catholic Church encouraged Baroque artists to create compelling images that would lead the audience of common citizens towards the Catholic faith. -
The Age of Enlightenment
This 1768 painting, "An Experiemnt on a Bird in the Air Pump," is indicative of the themes of the Enlightenment. In the painting a group of people are watching a scientist perform an experiement, exhibiting how the Enlightenment spread knowledge, inspiring free thought and thus challenging traditionally accepted ideas. The painting shows the reactions of the individuals in the room to the experiment which may result in a bird's death, underlinging the Enlightenment's emphasis on individuality. -
French Revolution
Symphony 3 - Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven's Third Symphony honors the ideals of the French Revolution. Finished in August 1804 after Napoleon had become ruler of France, Beethoven first named the piece "Bonaparte" after Napoleon, who he admired for his revolt against the French monarchy. However, as soon as Napoleon gave himself the title of emporer, Napoleon took away the title, echoing the ideology of the French Revolution. -
The Industrial Revolution and Realism
This Realist 1850 painting, "The Sower," by Jean-Francois Millet depicts a man working in the fields with a bleak background--the focus is simply on the man doing his job. This is characteristic of the style known as Realism, which was a rebuttle to Romanticism of the early nineteenth century. Realism, following the Industrial Revolution, portrayed concrete scenes, often of ordinary people performing labor. -
World War I and Dadaism
"Alarm Clock," Francis Picabia's 1919 painting is a key example of the Dadist style. The Dada movement, beginning in Zurich in 1916, was characterized by absurd artwork and literature. Essentially Dada was a protest against war, arguing that war was just as pointless as the Dad art. "Alarm Clock" is a minimalist representation of the workings of a clock, which satirizes both our concept of time and our perception of life. -
World War II
"The Sowers," painted in 1942 by Thomas Benton, shows an enormous man dumping huan skulls in a trench to represent the brutality of Fascism. Hitler was still in power at this time so this painting comments on the terror that Hitler spread throughout Europe. Opposition to the Nazi army was strong already by artwork like this reinforced the fight against Hitler by accentuating the inhuman nature of Fascism.
