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The most famous paintings of all time

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When ranking the most famous paintings of all time, we have to realize that the act of painting is an ancient medium, dating as far back as 40,000 years ago, when early humans applied ochre and charcoal to cave walls to create images of animals or stencils of their own handprints. It was, in other words, present at the birth of symbolic thought, predating the written word by 35,000 years or so. Even with the onset of the modern era, and the introduction of photography, film and digital technology, painting has remained a persistent mode of expression, in spite of cyclic pronouncements of its death. It's impossible to say just many paintings have been limned over dozens of millennia, only that a relatively small percentage of them could be construed as timeless classics that have become familiar to the public—and not coincidentally produced by some of the most famous artists of all time. That may be stating the obvious, but it leaves open the question of what mix of talent, genius a...
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The Most Famous Art Movements and Styles

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Throughout history, artists have produced art in a variety of media and styles following different philosophies and ideals. Although labelling may often result in being reductive, different artistic tendencies or styles can be grouped in collective titles known as art movements. If speaking art seems like a discipline in itself to you, here we provide you with the top terms of art movements and styles, from Classicism to Futurism, from Baroque to Avant-garde. Abstract Expressionism The designation Abstract Expressionism encompasses a wide variety of American 20th century art movements, and is usually characterized by large abstract painted canvases. Also known as The New York School, this movement in abstract art includes sculpture and other media as well. The term ‘action painting’ is associated with Abstract Expressionism, describing a direct and highly dynamic kind of art that involves the spontaneous application of vigorous, sweeping brushstrokes and the effects of dripping and spi...
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What is Art? Why is Art Important?

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 What is art? – The dictionary definition of art says that it is “the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects” (Merriam-Webster) But the thing about art is that it’s so diverse that there are as many ways to understand it as there are people. That’s why there are scholars who give their own special definition of the word, such the one penned by this famous Russian novelist, which goes: “Art is the activity by which a person, having experienced an emotion, intentionally transmits it to others” – Leo Tolstoy During his life, Tolstoy was known to write based on his life experiences, such as his most famous work, “War and Peace” that used much of his experience during the Crimean War. And whether or not his definition of art is the best, the point is that people look at art based on how they have experienced it. What is Art? There are many common definitions of art. Few to quote: Art is any creative work of a human being a form ...
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