When one thinks of traditional art, they quickly envision a Night Watch by Rembrandt or Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam. But why are these examples of traditional artworks? Does something made a long time ago automatically become traditional?
In essence, traditional art is that which is bound to techniques and style formats determined by the culture and values associated with a specific period. A characteristic of art from past centuries is that realism and proportion were conventional in terms of what was considered aesthetically valuable.
Culture determines tradition in art
A tradition almost always serves to emphasize and reinforce a culture or identity.
And in the art of recent centuries, it is not very different. This does not mean that tradition is something resolutely fixed and excluded from any change. While certain artists and their teachers cling to specific techniques, new changes will always lead to a change in tradition.
Religion and art
All traditions, whether religious or cultural, are essentially maintained by a particular group of people. A characteristic of this is that changes often happen unconsciously and only become clear after a long time, sometimes a century. The social and political changes of a society also influence the paintings that are created.
Christianity in the West played an almost central role in the motivation to create art.
From the 2nd century well into the 15th century, it was common for an artist to incorporate stories from the Bible into their artwork. This is not surprising, as there was no alternative worldview. Christian faith was deeply rooted in the state and society, which also brought mysticism and historical stories. A perfect source for art at that time.
But it was during the Renaissance that a change came in this art tradition because the worldview expanded. Not only that, the discovery of other cultures brought more freedom for new sources of inspiration. A challenge to established tradition:
What characteristics define the style of art?
To look at the features encompassing all traditional art, it’s difficult to sum it up with just a few terms. That would also be illogical, as what is seen as traditional spans several centuries.
The essence of traditional art is the pursuit of creating aesthetic works in which the meaning of the message is clearly conveyed. Realism and symbolism played a significant role in this aesthetic.
This can be seen in the art of the Romans and Greeks up to the Renaissance and classical periods. The artist’s craft, in which the ability to work in detail with proper proportions was highly regarded, was of utmost importance.
This tradition in technique and style was separate from what was painted or depicted in stone. Whether it was a landscape or a portrait, these aesthetic values always stood firm.
Realism: The beating heart of the ‘good’ artist
The realistic depiction on canvas or in stone of fantasy or reality is the core of traditional art.
Why was this a sign of craftsmanship if an artist could do it well?
By creating a realistic image, the story could be presented as clearly as possible to the viewer. No further explanation was needed, only admiration for the craftsmanship of the artwork.
This is so different from today’s art, where this traditional approach seems outdated. Today’s abstract art therefore demands more from the viewer, as the definition has been partly or completely intentionally omitted by the artist.
Establishing rules and guidelines
The establishment of strict rules always occurs gradually. Leonardo Da Vinci, for example, was a pioneer in the use of soft lines (sfumato technique) and transitions of color, opening up a new path for other artists to work even more realistically.
It largely depended on the art period and how conservative they were about preserving a particular technique.
It can also be seen that these rules were not so fixed in every art period that you couldn’t get around them as a creator. It had more to do with a slight change in style that caught attention and the freedom to experiment with it.
Difference between technique and motive
It’s good to know that things that become popular in a period, such as the use of emotions or nudity in painting, don’t necessarily have to become a tradition. Yet such things are characteristic of an art period, which can become a style in itself. In this process, many techniques have overlapped with each other throughout the centuries.
Sometimes, a technique or way of looking returns after being seen as outdated for centuries.
The fresco technique that was common in the Middle Ages gradually made a comeback in the Renaissance.
Fresco is a painting technique where paint is applied to a wet plaster surface. As the plaster dries, the paint binds with the surface, resulting in durable and vibrant wall paintings.
Greeks and Romans: Decoration and Beauty
These two civilizations are still known for their sculptures and architecture, which can be admired today. In these cultures, the idealization of the human body had become a tradition in sculpture and murals.
- Technique: A technique that became prominent in art was ‘Contrapposto,’ where the entire weight of a body is placed on one leg while the other leg is slightly bent. This allowed them to better represent anatomy, creating a lifelike and natural appearance. This was a technique that truly emerged in this era.
Baroque: Drama and Contrast
- Traditional characteristics: A significant contrast between light and dark was considered beautiful and artistic. Expressive emotions and body language also became the norm for interesting art. In contrast to previous art periods, this broke away from the tradition of portraying portraits and individuals without too much ‘drama.’
- Technique: The technique for achieving this contrast is called chiaroscuro. It was the first time that painting became so dark, contrasting with the traditions of the Romans, where everything was depicted very brightly. To achieve an even more theatrical effect, the technique of tenebrism emerged, further increasing the contrast between light and darkness.
There were certain technical traditions that did not really change between the Baroque and the Renaissance. For example, Leonardo Da Vinci used the Sfumato technique to gradually blur transitions of colors and edges. This was a style adhered to in both periods.
Renaissance: Humanism and Rediscovery
- Traditional characteristics: The human body came even more into focus in this art period, with clothing being removed and even the body being explored from the inside. This new ‘normal’ contradicted previous traditions and agreements to be portrayed as covered as possible in terms of clothing.
- Technique: Oil paint became popular and characteristic of this time, whereas in previous centuries, tempera and watercolor were used. Marble was still used as the standard for sculpting. This wasn’t surprising, as this type of stone allowed for a great deal of detail in human sculptures, such as facial expressions and muscles.
The pursuit of realism, not to be confused with detail, in art comes from the desire to illustrate what we see and want to see (stories and legends) as realistically as possible.
Romanticism: Escapism and Nature
Traditional characteristics: In this romantic era, the use of emotions was continued with even more enthusiasm, depicting strangers and less attractive expressions. The emphasis on the self-expression of the human being was so strong that it logically manifested in paintings and other forms of art.
Additionally, it was a tradition to portray nature as grander and wilder than it actually was, which was also related to the desire to amplify or “romanticize” things.
- Technique: The way of painting became increasingly loose in the Romantic era, departing from a long-standing tradition of working with controlled and precise brushstrokes. This allowed for much more freedom in movement and room for the viewer’s imagination.
Differences between Western art and other traditions
It’s no secret that in the Western world, traditional art from Asia and other continents is often underrated. This is largely because, as humans, we tend to focus on what we already know and where we come from.
However, there are significant differences in art from the same periods on different continents when it comes to tradition.
Islamic art in the Middle East:
During the Middle Ages in Europe, art often revolved around religious themes, with detailed frescoes and Gothic cathedrals. In contrast, Islamic art during the same period emphasized geometric patterns, calligraphy, and abstract decoration in mosques and palaces.
Chinese paintings:
During the European Renaissance in the 14th to 17th centuries, there was a strong emphasis on realism, perspective, and human anatomy in artworks such as those by Leonardo da Vinci. In contrast, traditional Chinese painting often focused on brushwork, ink paintings, and landscape art with deep philosophical meanings.
African influence on Cubism:
In the 20th century, African art was often overlooked in the Western art world, but it had a significant influence on modern art movements like Cubism. African artworks, such as masks and sculptures, often featured abstract forms and symbols that emphasized spiritual and cultural significance.
Thus, we see that every society undergoes its own development in what is considered aesthetic and artistic. When the West began to discover multiple parts of the world, we can observe that the art of other peoples had a minor, and sometimes major, impact on new art forms.
Did the foundation for making art begin in prehistory?
When humans first invented the wheel, they were already drawing and carving on bowls and walls to reflect life and culture. The use of paint, after a period of experimentation, produced the first style norms that one could adhere to in order to be considered a “good artist.”
In principle, the ways of previous centuries have always been carried forward. It was even seen as a mistake or deficiency if, as an artist, you did not adhere to them.
The decoration of walls and pots slowly evolved into creative expression meant to convey a clear story.
You could say that the tradition of enriching and depicting life began in the Stone Age. Drawing and carving shapes that people recognized from daily life were also done by the Romans and Greeks, but in their case, this had evolved much further in terms of style and technique.
The role of women in the history of art
The role of women is still a topic of discussion, although we have come a long way in this regard. In some periods, women were limited to creating only portraits. So, it wasn’t easy for women in the art sector up until a century ago. After all, it was often believed that men were the ones called to follow a creative path.
This was indeed the prevailing view in the Baroque era. The prescribed role of women as homemakers did not fit the image of the artist or any other profession for centuries…
However, just before the 19th century, there was a change in this perspective, with female artists like Georgia O’Keeffe and Louise Bourgeois having very successful careers.
It wasn’t so much a tradition as a taboo, where women could express their creativity but were not allowed to come forward, just like men did.
‘I can’t possibly be a part of a profession that doesn’t want me, that doesn’t have any respect for me, that belittles me, that doesn’t encourage me.’
A new tradition; a change in approach
Perhaps it’s because we now have photography, which serves as a mirror to reality, that realism has disappeared from art.
In previous centuries, the craftsmanship and practice of depicting reality as accurately as possible were considered signs of good artistry, to depict reality as it was in detail and sometimes in a coarser manner.
Did realistic art become outdated?
Contemporary art, where in addition to painting, installations and objects are exhibited, can be quite a shift for lovers of traditional art. It can even be frustrating to label white canvases in museums as art when they lack everything that was previously considered art.
Why contemporary art is trash – and why many people love it
However, there is an underlying idea behind this that can be justified. It seems as though today’s art wants to mock traditional realistic art. By exhibiting works that are as minimalist and abstract as possible with the same motif, what was traditionally detailed is seen as outdated.
The biggest difference is that the interaction between the artist and the viewer has changed. A work of art demands an explanation from the viewer rather than giving it away by revealing every aspect.
The intentional omission of a definition requires you to think for yourself instead of just observing. Abstract things can still be beautiful but are unclear, which can be frustrating for some people.
Final Thoughts
The tradition of art is different in every period, even though there are often subtle changes. The realistic approach, opposed to the abstract, has always been dominant and a sign of good artistry before the rise of modern art.
But traditions and ‘trends’ in art will always exist. A century from now, we will look back at the time we are living in and see the traditions we thought we wouldn’t have.
