vince’s ear

Whether you believe in God or not you can’t deny the importance of religion in society. Atheists being a minority, a large percentage of the world’s population belongs and has belong throughout history to some form of religion or spiritual community. This is evident in the cultures across the world and the effect this has had on art throughout art history is tremendous.

Early Art

Saying the phrase “early religious art” would be redundant. It seems in much of early art history we see the majority of artistic expression involving some religious theme in one way or another. Cave paintings often depicted rituals and ceremonies. Even if it seems only wild animals running or a hunt, it is very possible the paintings themselves were meant as a sort of prayer for good luck to supply the people with meat.

Before alphabets were even invented, symbols and images of the air god and other deities decorated the buildings of ancient Mesopotamia. People from this earliest of civilizations believed in a higher power and held rituals for important events such as burials, and began to record their beliefs. Places of worship were erected to pay homage to their many gods. These temples would be important examples of architecture in the culture of ancient Mesopotamia as would the temples and houses of worship of every other culture through the ages to this day.

Temples were an important part of the indigenous peoples of the Americas such as the Mayans, Incas, and Aztecs. They believed in human sacrifice and would have stepped temples where the person would be offered to the god on top, closest to the sky. We know about the religions of these societies by studying their writing systems, which consisted of hieroglyphs. These hieroglyphs were a series of symbols painted on ceramics, or carved in wood, stone, or molded in stucco.

In the Eastern hemisphere, art history is mostly dominated by Buddhist beliefs and thus Buddhist art. Starting around 1 A.D. in the Indian subcontinent, Buddhism would influence much of the culture of the whole of Asia and prevail for centuries. Buddha was mostly represented in sculpture and sometimes bas-reliefs. These Buddhas can be pre or post-enlightenment. The pre-enlightenment Buddhas have a whole subcategory called “Bodhisattvas.” These beings were on the way to enlightenment and offered support for others on their journey.

Medieval And Renaissance Art

The art of the Middle Ages is dominated by religion. The majority of paintings are mostly Christian-themed, representing stories mostly taken from the bible. The Church knew that most of the uneducated masses couldn’t read, so paintings were meant as a way for the peasantry and illiterate to learn the ways of God. These paintings and frescoes were painted all over churches and public walls and portrayed the lives of the saints, Jesus Christ with the Mother of God, and the Holy Spirit, as well as many other biblical passages.

Some of the finest pieces of architecture in European history belong to the magnificent cathedrals and churches that dot the landscape. In cities throughout the world, such as Philadelphia, there seems to be a church on every corner housing a plethora of different religions dating from all periods of time, some centuries old. Indeed these building structures were meant to last, with some cathedrals having about as much stone beneath the surface as was above. It is no surprise people took refuge in the old churches in time of war. The styles and attributes of these cathedrals with their arches, steeples, and flying buttresses are the subject of a much more detailed article to come in the future.

The people of the Middle Ages in general were a highly religious bunch. Christianity had a stronghold on most of the European countries and the priest and bishops were the highest ranking public officials. With plagues and other hardships, as well as basic philosophical unrest it was easy for the religious leaders to control the masses with promises of damnation or salvation. A tithe of 10% of one’s income ensured favor with the priest, thus buying favor of the saints. For a small fee one can reduce the time in purgatory of a recently deceased loved one. It is no surprise that the cardinals and popes of centuries ago as well as today are grandly dressed with gold jewelry and worshiping with fine holy instruments of precious metals.

Prayers were offered in the form of icons. Small art objects were made which were meant as an offering to God. To this day icons are an important part of religious art, ranging from modern crucifixes to tabernacles and chalices. To the people who pray and have prayed to these icons, the object is not a mere work of art, but rather a sacred object with a very special function. The making of these icons was a delicate task undertaken usually by a monk. Strict rules and guidelines had to be adhered to in order to make the object holy. The immaculate surface was painstakingly painted and was the equivalent to the writing of scriptures.

Throughout the Renaissance of the late Middle Ages, much of the early religious art stayed the same. Churches were built extravagantly in accordance to modern styles, and Christian art was still sacred and served a purpose for more than just viewing. But around this time, private patrons were beginning to commission and purchase art for themselves. Guilds of painters became artisans to serve the public, rather than just the Church and government. This meant subjects were beginning to stem away from dominant religious themes and the art was much more free. Religious themed art began to see the patrons themselves painted right alongside the saints or even the Holy Family. With advances such as the understanding of perspective, as well as the emergence of landscape paintings for their own sake, art in general started to become more diverse.

Some religious themes took on a more secular spin to them as well. Sculptors such as Michelangelo created artworks such as the biblical David but made them in a more realistic way rather than the usual religious practice of portraying people ideally. Caravaggio’s holy themes with simple humble looking subjects took the religious art world at storm. Portraying the Virgin Mary alongside peasants with dirt on their feet was a bit much for the traditional Catholics. But times were changing.

Religious Art of Modern Times

Wassily Kandinsky the Russian abstract painter stressed the importance of spirituality in art. His book, Concerning The Spiritual In Art tells us how spiritual life is like a large triangle with the point being occupied by only those who “bring sublime bread to man.” He says the artist has the task and mission of bringing others to the top through the use of his talent. During bad times, he says, souls fall to the bottom of the pyramid and seek only material success, and ignore the spiritual. Kandinsky goes on to explain some of the psychology involved in observing a painting. When we look at colors, he says, two things happen. One is a physical reaction to the colors which may bring us joy comparable to eating a tasty treat. The other is a spiritual vibrating of the soul.

Many contemporary artists still produce religious art in traditional ways. God or gods and important scriptural stories are portrayed as they always were. Much religious art of today is kitschy, with statues of saints and Blessed Virgin Marys being produced by the thousands for the religious masses to consume. People wear jewelry such as crosses and other examples of religious artifacts that they probably take for granted.

Religion in general has inspired, and will continue to inspire, artists to express their beliefs as offerings or homages to a higher spiritual world, or as messages meant to influence, inspirit, or educate society at large.

From the same time period of some of the cave paintings found in France and the rest of Europe, a separate art of its own was beginning to take course in Eastern lands. Similar to the art of Europe, this art was also painted on caves. Some of the oldest examples, particularly from central India, date to prehistoric times, beginning in the Stone Age. These wall paintings, like their European counterparts, represent animals and hunts, and were painted in a style that remained much the same for thousands of years.

The Bhimbetka rock shelters house some notable examples of Indian cave art which is about 9,000 years old. Much of the work found here give us a glimpse of the lives of the people who painted them. Besides animals and hunting, many scenes from everyday life were depicted such as childbirth, dancing and drinking, and religious rites and rituals, including burial and funeral ceremonies.

Some of the earliest art finds in Bhimbetka are petroglyphs, or rock cutouts. These symbols were cut from the rock, to portray people and animals. Paint was used to express the art afterward. This cave art shows distinguishable time periods ranging from the Upper Paleolithic era through the Mesolithic, Calcolithic, and Early Historic time periods on up to Medieval times. The early art from the Stone Age shows crude representations of animal themes dominating. The art of the Mesolithic period begins to evolve. Here we start to see people taking part in daily activities. Musical instruments and weapons are easily recognizable, and we begin to learn about rituals such as burial. Later we see contact with other agricultural communities in the Calcolithic period. And finally in the Early Historic and Medieval period, we see a notably evolved form of detailed art depicting people with colored tunics, religious symbols, and gods.

The 6th to 5th centuries B.C.E. gave us the life and works of the spiritual leader Gautama Buddha, which would indefinitely influence Eastern culture from religious values to art. Buddhist art, as an art style, would begin in the Indian subcontinent, and later spread to all parts of Asia and the rest of the world in short time. This art was initially characterized by aniconism, or a shunning of the representation of Buddha in the human form. Later, around the 1st century B.C.E., an iconic period began, which lasts to this day. From this period on, Buddha and his life and teachings have been represented not only by his symbols but as a person.

As the art form became iconic, the Buddha was first portrayed as an idealized human being retaining physical human characteristics yet representing a divine perfection. This showed Buddha as both a man and a god, and would become the norm for Buddhist art and belief in subsequent centuries. Bodhisattvas, or “enlightened beings,” were represented in sculptures which show Buddha in previous lives or as a young man destined toward final enlightenment. In Mahayana Buddhism, these Bodhisattvas can be a person who already has a considerable degree of enlightenment and seeks to help and teach the unenlightened ones.

Buddhist art continued to gain momentum and grow to the north as the Silk Road was opened to connect all parts of Asia. Various forms of Buddhism came form the contact with other Asian cultures and continued to grow and have influence until the emergence of Islam and Hinduism. By the 10th century A.C.E., Buddhism and Buddhist art was all but nonexistent in the Indian subcontinent, but had spread all across Asia and was still a considerable way of life In Japan, and other parts of Asia. As the art spread across the land, cultures and art styles mingled and Buddhist art is varied, based on the specific country.

Meanwhile in China, various art forms were developing and evolving based on the dynasty and ruler. Much of early art around the later Stone Age consisted of beautiful jade sculptures and pottery. Around the time of the Shang dynasty of around 1600 B.C.E., bronze was introduced into the art world, as well as calligraphy. Similar to the Buddhist art of India, much of Chinese art was also based on philosophy, particularly on the great Chinese philosopher Confucius. Buddhist art itself would become assimilated in Chinese culture around the 4th century B.C.E.

Different periods of Chinese art have been marked by dynasties. In the Sui and Tang dynasties of the 6th through 10th centuries A.C.E., foreign influence was embraced and new ideas came into Chinese culture. Buddhist art was still a strong art form and was characterized by sculptures of Buddha, which retain classical design based on earlier Indian art. In the Tang dynasty, painting as an art, including ink washes, started to achieve high status. Opera was introduced in the Song dynasty, and landscape painting became popular in the Yuan painting of the 13th century. Late imperial dynasties are known for increased popularity in poetry.

Early Japanese art took a similar path to Chinese art, being influenced heavily from the introduction of Buddhism. Toward the 9th century A.C.E., Japan began to break away from Chinese culture, and new forms of expression were developed, independent from the ideals of foreign nations. Much of this early Japanese art was religious but around the time of the Tokugawa regime of the 15th century, religion began to show less influence in art and culture in general.

Throughout Japanese history, a preference toward painting as the major art form is as prevalent today as it was in prehistoric times. Traditional writing is an art form in itself and its brush strokes match the style and elegance seen in paintings. Much of the painting was also involved in printing techniques based on Chinese woodblock printing, which became extremely popular with the new Edo (Tokyo) government at the turn of the 17th century. A painter cooperated with an engraver to design and engrave a woodblock which a printer would ink and press the block onto paper. The painter would take this black and white image, and paint it with finishing touches of color.

Ukiyo-e, or “pictures of the floating world,” is a genre of art starting in the 17th century which involves painting and printing of popular Japanese subjects. Kabuki theater actors were a favorite amongst painters and appeared time and again in artwork. The theaer actors were portrayed waiting for their parts, on stage and in character, and always wearing their fantastic costumes. Also scenes of travel and geisha houses were a recurring theme with the painters and printers. Ukiyo-e, in general, portrays a still and quiet world and reflects Japanese sensitivity to nature. Still lifes and peaceful landscapes were an honored theme.

Elsewhere throughout Asia, art was developing in each country’s own unique styles. Korean art is noted for its use of bold colors and surface decoration of pottery and sculptures. In Laos, the Buddhist art was sometimes carved in relief directly in cave walls. Thai and Tibetan art was also largely Buddhist. Cambodia, besides being influenced by Buddhism also shows art coming from the Indian Hinduism, and are known for their stone bas-reliefs. Indonesia, being the center of trade routes between the Far East and Middle East, enjoy a long history of absorbing many Asian cultures and religions, and their art is varied throughout its history.

Although art in these Asian countries has become what you would call “modern,” just like any Western country’s art, Asian people of today celebrate a long history of tradition, and often include parts of traditional art in contemporary art. The art of Japan has just recently exploded with modernism with influences of Manga (comics) and anime (animation). This art is unique in its own way, and shuns away from foreign influences, making it completely their own.

As far as Western art is concerned, many of it has been influenced by ancient Eastern art. Chinese printing techniques were around for hundreds of years before anything remotely similar came out in the West. Later, in the 19th century many Western artist were heavily influenced by Eastern art, such as Vincent van Gogh and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Both of these artist, henceforth influenced much of the art we know today. With tens of thousands of years of growth, Eastern art remains a powerful influence on the art of the world in general.