Post 2

Art is often known for its freedom of expression and the creative techniques that an individual can do to showcase an emotion or simply a beautiful arrangement. Yet, during the Renaissance period, it bought a whole new different perspective on how everyone viewed and interpreted art, especially in Europe. Renaissance was the rebirth of literature and art as a whole, having it shape the way we view and interpret art today. It was composed of many different characteristics such as realism, emotion, individualism, anatomy, etc. This time period developed and morphed throughout the 14th to 17th century but different components throughout the year added to the true meaning of the Renaissance. Although many of the contributions were based on religion due to the church being so wealthy and contained many individuals at power who funded these art pieces, it didn’t limit the artists on their artwork and techniques. Some of the artists that helped shape this era were Michaelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Masaccio, and Gentileschi. 

Masaccio was a spectacular artist that helped shape the beginning of the Renaissance, despite his

The Expulsion of Adam
and Eve, Masaccio (1425)

short timeline. He was well known in his contributions to realism. In art pieces such as The Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise, we are presented with many different factors that often weren’t targeted at the time being. He focused on the nude body trying to capture the human body in the best shape or form using light and shadow to shape their body. This wasn’t as common so early in the time period, trying to capture the bone and muscle structure in paintings but he did a beautiful representation in this piece. Not only did he attempt to make his frescos appear like sculptors using shadow and light but he also emphasized on trying to catch the emotion of individuals on his paintings. He targeted the psychological impact of shame on the first humans who were Adam and Eve, after being thrown out of paradise into the naked world (Stokstad, 624). Using all these techniques developed a greater realism because it wasn’t solely based on the precise lines and outlines which was focused on at the time but instead the mass form of it as a whole. 

The Vitruvian Man, Leonardo de Vinci
(c. 1490)

Although Mosaccio captured realism well and was a great artist to shape it, nothing can compare with how Leonardo De Vinci captured realism and humanist contemporaries. Da Vinci was well known for his knowledge of the human body, mathematics, the natural world and etc. He was so knowledgable and creative; everyone was far aware of so but he never quiet pushed through with many of his pieces (Stokstad, 650). He contributed with the Renaissance Period with many of his artwork such as The Vitruvian Man and The Mona Lisa. In The Vitruvian Man, we got to see how intelligent of a man he truly was. We got to see and understand the anatomy of an individual and he did so by almost capturing it as a machine. The mathematics and scale of it all provided the era with a clear depiction of the ideal body. Being aware of his

Mona Lisa, Leonardo de Vinci
(1503)

understanding of scales and his wisdom gives us a clearer look into many of his pieces and other factors such as The Mona Lisa. In The Mona Lisa, we were presented with many different contributions that may not be captured at first glance. One factor that stands out to all would be the expression on her face, being no one truly knows the emotion trying to be showcased. Also, he strayed away from usual paintings at the time being women high in society by painting someone who seems on the poorer side of society. We acknowledge this by viewing her clothes and the lack of jewelry. It was also uncommon for portraits to have a background presenting his knowledge of depth and perspective alongside with his knowledge of light and shadows to create this beautiful image.

Alongside Da Vinci and extreme wisdom, we are presented with Michaelangelo who was greatly

David, Michaelangelo
(1501-1504)

known for his sculptors. That was his true passion, sculpting the body and capturing the many different components. We get a better glimpse of this idea when taking a look at his statue of David. David was a beautiful depiction of not only the nudity of a man but more of an athletic man, capturing the shadowing of the body, almost as if it is soft to touch. The expression he also placed on David was something new because we get to interpret his stare as powerful as if something lies ahead of the eye of the beholder. Using all these components of shadow and expression we get to view David as a warrior and get a new understanding of the male body (Stokstad, 659). Although Michaelango’s passion was sculpting, the Pope had other plans in store for him, is that the Church was a big influential factor at the time. He ordered him to paint The Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and it may not have been what he preferred, he surely executed this piece. Here we get his understanding of the geometric aspect by the way he painted and shaped the ceiling using lines and light to his advantage. He also may not have enjoyed painting at all but he embodied the individuals to almost be viewed as statues capturing the light and softness of the body as well. 

The Ceiling of Sistine Chapel, Michaelangelo
(1508–1512)

Lastly, we are presented with a woman painter, named Gentileschi. Women weren't at all common in the time period. Famous daughter of a well-known artist, Orazio, she bought a powerful representation into the

Judith Beheading Holofernes, Gentileschi
(1610)

Renaissance era for women at the time who often had no voice at all to many matters. Her most well-known painting being Judith Beheading Holofernes bought many techniques and also powerful meaning alongside it. We got to interpret the scene as a very sensual moment sue to the dramatic spotlighting and the angles she captured her images (Stokstad, 738). She also painted to have the woman be depicted as the hero in paintings due to her personal life after being raped by one of her father’s men. She spoke up for many women at the time who had no voice and gave them a sense of power and understanding for many of the situations that occurred because of how often they were brushed off or hidden. 

The Renaissance period being the rebirth of all literature and art was truly an era that morphed many of the ways we view things today. Bought a new understanding and techniques to now our present-day art. It provided a new appreciation to the world and the aspects of it. 

• Stokstad, Marilyn, and Michael W. Cothren. Art History. Boston: Pearson Education, 2014. Print.