This document contains answers for ARH1502 assignment 2 semester 2 for the academic year 2024. The essay written in this document has been applied with the assignment requirements. A 90% pass is guaranteed. All the best!!!!!
From Lesson 2 (Early modern History), choose one of the following Art Movements:
Baroque
Romanticism
Now, write a short essay, in which you discuss the following of the movement you
chose:
What important social, political, economic and philosophical ideas influenced art
of this era
Discuss ONE artwork by an artist of that movement, by referring to the following
questions:
How the ideas of the time (as discussed above) influenced this specific artwork.
In other words, how do you see some of these ideas reflected in the artwork.
What stylistic devices, methods and/ or materials can you identify in the work you
chose that is typical of the movement that you chose?
How is the content of the work typical of the era that you chose?
, The Baroque Art Movement: A Study of Rembrandt’s “The Return of the
Prodigal Son”
The Baroque period, which spanned from 1600 to 1750, was a time of profound
transformation across Europe. Characterised by its dramatic, elaborate, and emotive
style, Baroque art appeared as a powerful reflection of the era's social, political, and
religious upheavals. This essay explores how the Baroque movement encapsulated
the tumultuous 17th century through a detailed analysis of Rembrandt’s masterpiece,
“The Return of the Prodigal Son” (1669). By examining this artwork, we gain insight
into the Baroque era’s artistic and thematic preoccupations, revealing how art served
as a mirror to the period’s dramatic changes.
Influential Ideas of the Baroque Era
The Baroque era was marked by significant shifts in social and political structures.
The rise of absolute monarchies, such as those under Louis XIV of France, shifted
the balance of power, concentrating authority in the hands of a single ruler. This
centralisation of power was paralleled by the expansion of colonial empires, with
European nations like Spain and Portugal extending their reach across the globe.
The growth of a wealthy merchant class also played a crucial role in shaping the
period's art, as this new elite began to commission works that reflected their status
and values.
Religiously, the Baroque period was deeply influenced by the Counter-Reformation.
The Catholic Church sought to reaffirm its authority and engage the faithful through
emotionally compelling art. This period saw a deliberate move towards more
accessible and dramatic representations of religious themes, aimed at stirring the
viewer’s emotions and reinforcing spiritual devotion. In contrast, the Protestant
Reformation had introduced a more restrained and intellectual approach to religion,
which the Catholic Church countered with its own visual rhetoric.
Philosophically and scientifically, the era was defined by the Scientific Revolution,
which saw groundbreaking advancements by figures like Galileo and Newton. This
intellectual climate fostered debates between rationalism and empiricism, influencing
how people perceived the world and their place in it. These debates also seeped into
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