History of Art | Art and the Human Body

The Body Through the Ages

Same content, very different form.

In the lecture, we explored some of the ways in which the portrayal of the human body has evolved since prehistoric times.

In this exercise, you'll deepen your understanding of this theme. First, I want you to summarize, in your own words, how the human body has been portrayed at different points in history.

Then, you'll comment on changing standards of beauty, researching and commenting on artworks that illustrate beauty or ugliness in men and women.

 

For this part of the exercise, I would like you to summarize how the human body is portrayed at different periods in history. Try to make distinctions between different eras and connections between different movements and styles where they exist.

In your answer, please address at least four of the following periods:

Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, African art, Edo Japan, Renaissance Italy, Northern European Renaissance, Mannerism, Baroque, 19th and 20th century painting and sculpture.

To support your answer, please upload at least four images or include links (full URLs) with your post.

Part II: Analyzing Imagery of Men and Women

In the lecture, I talked about how art throughout history has reflected changing standards of beauty. In this part of the exercise, I would like you to find four images of women and four of men throughout the art history that appeal to you with their beauty or their ugliness.

Please comment on the works (beautiful or ugly?) and reflect on some of topics discussed in the lecture, as appropriate. Here are some suggestions:

	Is the representation proportional and in perspective? Is the subject an important/exalted figure or an everyday person? Is the subject portrayed in action or repose? Does the artist intentionally idealize the subject or portray him/her in a realistic manner?