The evolution of painting styles through the ages

When we think of painting, we sometimes imagine a picture hanging in a museum, colors frozen on a canvas. But painting is much more than that: it's a window on the soul of an era, a mirror of society. And spoiler: it speaks volumes.

So, are you ready for a little journey through time with your brushes?

It all begins in the caves

Before Monet, Van Gogh or Picasso, there were... our ancestors. Yes, the first artists were hunter-gatherers. Their works? Animal drawings on cave walls, as in Lascaux.

Dating from around 17,000 BC, these paintings were more than just wall decorations: they told stories, rituals and beliefs. In short, mankind's first art gallery was located underground.

Antiquity & the Middle Ages: sacred and codified art

In Antiquity, art became more realistic. The Egyptians painted scenes from daily life, the Greeks sculpted perfect bodies, and the Romans decorated their villas with colorful frescoes.

Then, in the Middle Ages, painting took a religious turn. Byzantine icons and church frescoes were used to teach the faithful about the faith. The proportions are less realistic, the colors symbolic. Art in the service of God.

Renaissance: the golden age of realism

And then, boom: the Renaissance. Between the 14ᵉ and 16ᵉ centuries, artists (re)discover the rules of perspective, the interplay of light and shadow. They wanted to depict man, nature and life as it really is.

Any names? Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli... just to name a few. It's a time when the artist becomes a central figure, admired, almost star-struck.

Art that's more human, freer and curious

Painters gradually moved away from religious subjects alone. They painted portraits, landscapes and mythological scenes. Art becomes exploration.

From classicism to romanticism: emotion takes over

In the 17ᵉ century, it was time for classicism: clean lines, balanced composition, noble subjects. Nicolas Poussin and Ingres come to mind. But soon, rigor gives way to emotion.

In the 19ᵉ century, Romantic artists shook up codes. Delacroix paints revolt, Géricault shows suffering. Art became political, committed and vibrant.

Impressionism: the revolution of light

At the end of the 19ᵉ century, a band of artists is fed up with the strict rules of the academies. They want to paint en plein air, to capture the moment, the reflections of light, the vibrations of color.

Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Pierre-Auguste Renoir... Their aim was not to represent perfectly, but to make us feel. Hence the name "impressionism" (a reference to Monet's Impression, soleil levant ).

20ᵉ century: explosion of styles, room for abstraction

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The 20ᵉ century is a veritable artistic firework display. Styles multiplied, borders exploded. A few examples?

• Cubism (Picasso, Braque) breaks with perspective
• Surrealism (Dalí, Magritte) explores dreams
• Expressionism (Munch, Schiele) shows raw emotion
• Abstraction (Kandinsky, Mondrian) forgets reality to focus on shapes and colors

Art becomes a personal experience. You don't have to "understand" a painting, you just have to feel it.

What about today?

Today, art is everywhere. Styles intersect and reinvent themselves. Between contemporary art, street art, digital painting and artificial intelligence, painting has never been so free.

Some regret the classical techniques, others applaud this total freedom. But one thing is certain: art continues to tell the story of our times, our doubts, our anger, our hopes.

What the history of painting reveals

Every artistic movement reflects a context: war, peace, progress, crisis, revolution... Painting is like a silent but powerful history book.

And if you look closely, you'll always find a little bit of us in them.

In a nutshell

From Lascaux to Banksy, from religious icons to abstract art, painting has always evolved with the times. It has become a messenger, provocative, emotional and liberating. It is a witness to society, but also an individual cry.

How about getting curious with SPART? 🎨 Art doesn't require "the codes". Just to feel.

My name is Candice Lhomme and I've been Digital Marketing Manager at SPART since April 2024.

Passionate about artistic gymnastics and sports in general, I'm also a great lover of sunsets, good food and travel.

Through my articles, I hope to pass on a little of my good humor and my passions. Are you ready to discover simple ideas for feeling better every day?