Learn what a genre scene is and why this type of subject grew in popularity
language-arthistory
What's the difference between classic art, classical art, and classicism?
Classic, classical, and classicism explained
Naturalism is resemblance to the “real world,” as we see it around us.
Naturalism, realism, abstraction and idealization
As we look into the distance, we lose visual clarity. The specificity of color also decreases.
Atmospheric perspective explained
Renaissance artists relied upon this strategy to render the natural world. Get a tutorial at the School of Athens.
Foreshortening explained
Don’t stand so straight! Relax. Shift your weight. Bend a knee. Just respond to the world, like this spear-bearer.
Contrapposto explained
These decorative systems once adorned Greek temples. It’s an ancient language, but we still speak it today.
Classical orders of architecture explained
No Photoshop! Just a vanishing point, a horizon line, and some orthogonals—that’s the magic formula for reality.
Linear perspective explained
This technique captures transitions from light to dark. As Titian knew, it creates the illusion of volume and mass.
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