Painting

Executive Summary About Painting By arthistory,  Paint By : Emily Busse and Hobby Holmes  

“Painting only can “describe” everything which can be seen and suggest every emotion which can be felt! Art reaches back into the babyhood of time, and is man’s only lasting monument!” (William Hunt, Talks About Art)

Painting has existed as an artistic tradition for thousand of years. From the cave painting of Lascaux to the great, masterpieces of Da Vinci it has played a historical and aesthetic role in the different ages of existence. Schools of painting were developed as well as many various texts discussing the art form. Mural painting and fresco launched the theory painting into classical societies. Out of this came the development of several styles of painting. In different time periods the values of true art shift, even with its alterations, the general guideline still remains. In Painters and Personality, Lewisohn states “to a natural art lover such lack of unity on a painting creates a repulsion which warns him that he is not looking at a real achievement.” Going back to Renaissance theory art is the true depiction of nature and its ultimate beauty. “Perhaps dome of out chaotic painting today is caused by the fact that many of the specialized artists are stunted human beings” (Lewisohn, 9).

If all of these theories were true, painting would become one large contradiction. Is it technical skill and classical styles that create the great masterpieces or just common earthly beauty depicted through the artists vision?

A variety of responses to the question “What is painting?” are proposed in loose chronological sequence, ranging from ironic to sincere; from figurative to abstract; and from an embrace and creative reimagining of painting’s possibilities to a critical engagement with its limits.