Prehistoric Art (c. 30,000 BCE – 3,500 BCE):

• • • Earliest forms of art found in cave paintings and sculptures.
    • Primarily served practical or ritualistic purposes.

Ancient Art (c. 3,500 BCE – 476 CE):

• • • Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman civilizations produced significant art.
    • Notable for monumental architecture, sculptures, and pottery.

Medieval Art (c. 476 CE – 1400 CE):

• • • Art influenced by Christianity, characterized by illuminated manuscripts, mosaics, and Gothic architecture.
    • Focus on religious themes.

Renaissance (14th – 17th centuries):

• • • A revival of classical learning, science, and the arts.
    • Artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael flourished.
    • Emphasis on perspective, realism, and humanism.

Baroque (17th – 18th centuries):

• • • Characterized by grandeur, drama, and rich ornamentation.
    • Caravaggio and Rembrandt were prominent Baroque artists.

Neoclassicism (mid-18th – 19th centuries):

• • • A return to classical themes inspired by ancient Greece and Rome.
    • Emphasis on order, clarity, and rationality.

Romanticism (late 18th – mid-19th centuries):

• • • Emphasis on emotion, imagination, and individualism.
    • Artists like William Blake and Eugène Delacroix explored nature and the sublime.

Realism (mid-19th – late 19th centuries):

• • • Depiction of everyday life and ordinary people.
    • Gustave Courbet and Honoré Daumier were key figures.

Impressionism (late 19th century):

• • • Focus on capturing light and atmosphere.
    • Monet, Degas, and Renoir were central to the movement.

Post-Impressionism (late 19th – early 20th centuries):

• • • Artists explored individual expression and symbolism.
    • Van Gogh, Cézanne, and Seurat were influential.

Modern Art (late 19th – mid-20th centuries):

• • • Artistic experimentation and a break from traditional conventions.
    • Movements include Cubism, Fauvism, Surrealism, and Abstract Expressionism.

Contemporary Art (mid-20th century – present):

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  • Diverse and evolving, reflecting global perspectives.
  • Inclusion of new media, conceptual art, and a focus on individual expression.

The history of art is rich and continually evolving, shaped by cultural, social, and technological changes. Different regions and artists have contributed significantly to the global tapestry of artistic expression.