Defining a Period in Art History

Our class has been covering a wide range of time periods within the large scope of art history. We have been exposed to terms such as: idealism, naturalism, reductionism, or humanism; all of these terms are characteristic in the larger scheme of their time periods but I couldn't help but ask myself the question—is it fair to define a period by a single term? After much thought and careful observation, I must answer with a resounding no. If you take the time period during the Renaissance (14th-16th centuries) and observe the artistic tendencies of artists in both the northern and southern renaissance areas, you will notice that there is a vast variety in just about every element of art in every composition. Take Piero della Francesca's The Flagellation of Christ, ca. 1469 (Southern Renassaince) and Robert Campin's Altarpiece, ca. 1425 (Northern Renaissance) and you will quickly realize the vast differences, as well as similarities, between the two. The most noticeable difference between two pieces from the North and South is perspective; even the perspective in separate scenes of the same painting change. If you notice in the The Flagellation of Christ, the lines of the left scene definitely do not match those of the right side. Similarly, in the in each scene of the Altarpiece, each perspective varies. This example should show the everyday art admirer that artists do not always stick to the "terms" of their time but, instead, choose to create their own styles by mixing the ingredients available to their personal liking. Perhaps this brief example will make you think twice before pairing an "ism" with a diverse period in art history.


Pierro della Francesca, The Flagellation of Christ, ca. 1469
http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/piero/flagellation.jpg
Robert Campin, Altarpiece, ca. 1425
http://www.casa-in-italia.com/artpx/flem/images/Campin_Metropolitan_Merode_Triptych.JPG