art history

Under the Wave off Kanagaw a (Kanagawa oki nami ura), also known as the Great Wave, from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji. Katsushika Hokusai. 1830– 1833 C.E. Polychrome woodblock print; ink and color on paper. one of the most famous works of art in the world Hokusai’s print displays the influence of Dutch art, and proved to be inspirational for many artists working in Europe later in the nineteenth century. Mount Fuji does not always dominate the frame. Under the Wave off Kanagawa is full of visual play. The mountain, made tiny by the use of perspective, appears as if it too will be swallowed up by the wave. Hokusai has arranged the composition to frame Mount Fuji. he white top of the great wave creates a diagonal line that leads the viewers eye directly to the peak of the mountain top. Hokusai discovered Western prints that came to Japan by way of Dutch trade. From the Dutch artwork Hokusai became interested in linear perspective.  The influence of Dutc...

White and Red Plum Blossoms. Ogata Korin. c. 1710–1716 C.E. Ink, watercolor, and gold leaf on paper. Ogata Kôrin transforms a very simple landscape theme—two flowering trees on either side of a brook—into a dream vision. the image seems both abstract and realistic at the same time.  Its background, a subtle grid of gold leaf, denies any sense of place or time and imbues everything with an ethereal glow.  The stream’s swelling metallic curls and spirals are a make-believe of flowing water, and its sharply tapered serpentine contour lines angle the picture plane in an unnatural upward tilt.  the artist's intimate knowledge of how a plum tree grows can be seen in their writhing forms and tangle of shoots and branches. The trunks of the trees are nothing more than pools of mottled color without so much as an outline.  These forms and spaces appear flat to the eye.  function of the folding screen within the traditional Japanese interior.  a vi...

Taj Mahal. Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. Masons, marble workers, mosaicists, and decorators working under the supervision of Ustad Ahmad Lahori, architect of the emperor. 1632–1653 C.E. Stone masonry and marble with inlay of precious and semiprecious stones; gardens. During his third regnal year, his favorite wife, known as Mumtaz Mahal, died due to complications arising from the birth of their fourteenth child.  Deeply saddened, the emperor started planning the construction of a suitable, permanent resting place for his beloved wife almost immediately. The result of his efforts and resources was the creation of what was called the Luminous Tomb in contemporary Mughal texts and is what the world knows today as the Taj Mahal. Sunni Muslims favor a simple burial, under an open sky.  But notable domed mausolea for Mughals; were built prior to Shah Jahan’s rule The Taj is, however, exceptional for its monumental scale, stunning gardens, lavish ornamentation,...

Jahangir Preferring a Su Shaikh to Kings . Bichitr. c. 1620 C.E. Watercolor, gold, and ink on paper. In this miniature painting, Jahangir Preferring a Sufi Shaikh to Kings , flames of gold radiate from the Emperor’s head against a background of a larger, darker gold disc. A slim crescent moon hugs most of the disc’s border, creating a harmonious fusion between the sun and the moon, and symbolizing the ruler’s emperorship and divine truth. The Emperor is the biggest of the five human figures painted, and the disc with his halo—a visual manifestation of his title of honor—is the largest object in this painting. Jahangir faces four bearded men of varying ethnicity, who stand in a receiving-line format on a blue carpet embellished with arabesque flower designs and fanciful beast motifs. Below the Shaikh, and thus, second in the hierarchical order of importance, stands an Ottoman Sultan. The unidentified leader, dressed in gold-embroidered green clothing and a turban ...

 Ryoan-ji. Kyoto, Japan. Muromachi Period, Japan. c. 1480 C.E.; current design most likely dates to the 18th century. Rock garden. Ryōanji is a temple located in north Kyoto, Japan affiliated with a branch of Zen Buddhism. The followers of Zen Buddhism pursued “enlightenment” or “awakening” by means of self-introspection and personal experience in daily life. The quintessence and aesthetics of Zen is epitomized in the rock garden and architecture of Ryōanji.   Ryōanji thrived as a great Zen center for the cultural activities of the elite from the late 16th through the first half of the 17th century under the patronage of the Hosokawa family. is regarded as an expression of Zen art and a symbol of Zen Buddhism and Japanese culture.   The Ryōanji garden is the one of the most famous examples of a rock garden—a form which developed during the Moromachi period (1392-1573)  This type of garden consists of rocks and pebbles rather than veg...

Forbidden City. Beijing, China. Ming Dynasty. 15th century C.E. and later. Stone masonry, marble, brick, wood, and ceramic tile.    The Forbidden City is a large precinct of red walls and yellow glazed roof tiles located in the heart of China’s capital, Beijing. the Forbidden City is composed of more than 90 palace compounds including 98 buildings The Forbidden City was the political and ritual center of China for over 500 years. After its completion in 1420, the Forbidden City was home to 24 emperors, their families and servants during the Ming (1368–1644) and the Qing (1644–1911) dynasties. Although it is no longer an imperial precinct, it remains one of the most important cultural heritage sites   In order to solidify his power, the Chengzu emperor moved the capital, as well as his own army, from Nanjing in southeastern China to Beijing and began building a new heart of the empire, the Forbidden City.  While no major change has b...

Portrait of Sin Sukju   (1417–1475). Imperial Bureau of Painting. c. 15th century C.E. Korea. Hanging scroll (ink and color on silk). This painting depicts Sin Sukju (1417-75) as a “meritorious subject,” or an official honored for his distinguished service at court and loyalty to the king during a tumultuous time.  Skilled in capturing the likeness of the sitter while still adhering to pictorial conventions, artists in the Royal Bureau of Painting (a government agency staffed with artists) created portraits of officials awarded this honorary title.  The Chosŏn or Yi dynasty, was founded in 1392 by the military leader Yi Sŏng-gye and lasted until 1910. It was the last imperial dynasty and the longest in Korea's history. This painting shows Sin Sukju dressed in his official robes with a black silk hat on his head.  In accordance with Korean portraiture conventions, court artists pictured subjects like Sin Sukju seated in a full-length view, often wit...