For thousands of years, people have created art to express themselves and communicate their ideas. Art has been used to decorate utilitarian objects like bowls and weapons, tell stories, display religious and symbolic imagery, and even show off one’s social status. In this way, art has been a driving force in the development of civilizations and it is still a powerful medium for communication today.
Art is also a form of expression of the imagination in ways that aren’t restricted by the limitations of language. It is a unique ability that unlocks our potential for creativity, and it has been shown to have a positive impact on intelligence.
In the past, art was viewed as a craft – something that could be learned and perfected through practice. With the rise of Romanticism and individualism, however, art came to be viewed as a way to create something original. This new definition of art challenged artists to rethink what art could be and led to movements such as Cubism and Futurism.
The foundation of art is built upon the ideas of a particular culture, and many art historians specialize in the study of one specific culture or time period, for example, ancient Greek or 19th century German art. This specialization helps them understand the cultural influences that created the art, the history of art and its role in shaping society. Art is also a form of communication that can bring people together across cultural boundaries and create understanding where previously there was hostility.
When it comes to viewing art, there are a variety of emotions that can be evoked: happy, sad, hopeful, angry or a plethora of others. This can be a result of the subject matter, the style or the technique that is used to make the work. But, in reality, good art doesn’t just evoke emotions; it provokes thoughts and questions.
As the world becomes more globalized, it’s important to have a better understanding of art from around the globe. This is one of the reasons why it’s so valuable to have art lessons that go beyond the typical textbook-based lesson plans and engage students in creative projects that will allow them to appreciate and discuss different cultures through their artwork.
In this collection of art history made fun lessons, you’ll find activities that include a teacher script for the lesson, a student script, extension art projects, coloring pages of famous works of art and a word search with vocabulary words to explore concepts and build knowledge. These art lessons are the perfect way to incorporate literary skills into an already full curriculum while engaging students with hands-on and meaningful art lessons.