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For practical purposes, the history of French art has been divided into a series of separate articles accessible through the template to the right. --> In the history of art prehistoric art is all art produced in preliterate cultures (prehistory beginning somewhere in very late geological history Medieval art covers a vast scope of time and place over 1000 years of Art history in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. French Renaissance is a recent term used to describe a cultural and artistic movement in France from the late 15th century to the early 17th century This article part of the French art history series covers the history of the visual and plastic arts in France in the 17th century This article part of the French art history series covers the history of the visual and plastic arts in France from the late 17th to the late 18th centuries French art of the nineteenth century, part of the French art history series covers the visual and plastic works of art made in France or by French citizens during the following French art of the 20th century, part of the French art history series covers the history of the visual and plastic arts in France in the twentieth century The following is a chronological list of French artists working in visual or plastic media (plus for some artists of the 20th century Performance art) The following is a chronological list of French Architects. Some of their major architectural works are listed after each name The following is a chronological list of artistic movements or periods in France indicating artists who are sometimes associated or grouped with those movements From the seventeenth century to the early part of the twentieth century artistic production in France was controlled by artistic academies which organized official exhibitions called Impressionism was a 19th-century Art movement that began as a loose association of Paris -based Artists exhibiting their art publicly in the 1860s Cubism was a 20th century Avant-garde Art movement, pioneered by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, that revolutionized European For other meanings see Dada (disambiguation DaDa is a Concept album by Alice Cooper, released Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early-1920s and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members Also see articles History of painting, Western painting Western Art' redirects here The template also gives direct access to French art category indexes, such as alphabetical lists of painters or sculptors. To locate artists from a particular period or art movement, the relatively comprehensive manual list of painters and artistic movements in chronological order is recommended. In addition to a brief historic overview, some supplementary or general material is included on this page, including art vocabulary and general French art references.

'French art consists of the visual and plastic arts (including architecture, woodwork, textiles, and ceramics) originating from the geographical area of France. The visual arts are art forms that focus on the creation of works which are primarily Visual in nature such as Painting, Photography Plastic arts are those Visual arts that involve the use of Materials that can be moulded or modulated in some way often in three dimensions This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Historical surveys of French art typically begin with Pre-Romanesque art, Romanesque art, and Gothic art, but some surveys, such as André Chastel's French Art, include discussions of prehistoric art, Celtic art, and Roman art within France. Pre-Romanesque art and architecture is the period in Western European art from either the emergence of the Merovingian kingdom in about 500 or from the Carolingian Romanesque art refers to the art of Western Europe from approximately 1000 AD to the rise of the Gothic style in the 13th century or later depending on region This article is about Gothic art See also Gothic architecture Gothic art was a Medieval art movement that lasted about 200 --> In the history of art prehistoric art is all art produced in preliterate cultures (prehistory beginning somewhere in very late geological history Celtic art is art associated with various people known as Celts; those who spoke the Celtic languages in Europe from pre-history through to the modern period Roman art includes the visual arts produced in Ancient Rome, and in the territories of the Roman empire.

Contents

Historic overview

Prehistory

Currently, the earliest known European art is from the Upper Palaeolithic period of between 40,000 and 10,000 years ago and France has a large selection of extant pre-historic art from the Châtelperronian, Aurignacian, Solutrean, Gravettian, and Magdalenian cultures. The Upper Paleolithic (or Upper Palaeolithic) is the third and last subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age as it is understood in Europe Africa --> In the history of art prehistoric art is all art produced in preliterate cultures (prehistory beginning somewhere in very late geological history Châtelperronian was the earliest industry of the Upper Palaeolithic in central and south western France, extending also into Northern Spain. Aurignacian is the name of a culture of the Upper Palaeolithic located in Europe and southwest Asia. The Solutrean industry is a relatively advanced flint tool-making style of the Upper Palaeolithic. The Gravettian was an industry of the European Upper Palaeolithic. The Magdalenian, also spelled Magdalénien refers to one of the later cultures of the Upper Palaeolithic in Western Europe. This art includes cave paintings, such as the famous paintings at Pech Merle in the Lot in Languedoc which date back to 16,000 B. Cave paintings are Paintings on Cave walls and ceilings and the term is used especially for those dating to Prehistoric times Pech Merle, a hillside opening in the Lot département of Midi-Pyrénées region in France, about 35 minutes drive east of Cahors, Lot ( Occitan: Òlt) is a department in the southwest of France named after the Lot River. Languedoc ( in French Lengadòc in Occitan) is a former Province of France, now continued in the modern-day ''régions'' of Languedoc-Roussillon C. , Lascaux, located near the village of Montignac, in the Dordogne, dating back to between 13,000 and 15,000 B. Lascaux is the setting of a complex of Caves in southwestern France famous for its prehistoric Cave paintings The original caves are located near Montignac is a commune in the Dordogne department in Aquitaine in southwestern France. Dordogne (Dordonha is a department in central France named after the Dordogne River. C. , or perhaps, as far back as 25,000 B. C. , the Cosquer Cave, the Chauvet Cave, and the Trois-Frères cave; and portable art, such as animal carvings and great goddess stauettes called Venus figurines, such as the "Venus of Brassempouy" of 21,000 B. The Cosquer cave is located in the Calanque de Morgiou near Marseille, France, not very far from Cap Morgiou The Chauvet Cave or Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc Cave is located at N 44° 21' and E 4° 29' 24" near Vallon-Pont-d'Arc, in the Ardèche département in southern The Cave of the Trois-Frères is one of the famous Caves in southwestern France famous for its Cave paintings It is located in Montesquieu-Avantès Prehistoric portable art included small mobile pieces that could be carried from place to place Venus figurines is an Umbrella term for a number of prehistoric Statuettes of women sharing common attributes (many depicted as apparently Obese C. , discovered in the Landes, now in the museum at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Landes ( Occitan: Lanas) is a département in southern France. The Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye is a French royal Palace in the commune of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, in the département of Ornamental beads, bone pins, carvings, as well as flint and stone arrowheads also are among the prehistoric objects from the area of France. An arrowhead is point of an Arrow, or a shape resembling such a point as Archaeological artifacts arrowheads are a subclass of Projectile points

Speculations exist that only Homo sapiens are capable of artistic expression, however, a recent find, the Mask of La Roche-Cotard—a Mousterian or Neanderthal artifact, found in 2002 in a cave near the banks of the Loire River, dating back to about 33,000 B.C.—now suggests that Neanderthal humans may have developed a sophisticated and complex artistic tradition. Human beings, humans or man (Origin 1590–1600 L homō man OL hemō the earthly one (see Humus The Mask of la Roche-Cotard is a Mousterian artifact, found in 2002 in the entrance of La Roche-Cotard on the banks of the Loire River Mousterian is a name given by archaeologists to a style of predominantly Flint tools (or industry) associated primarily with Homo neanderthalensis The Neanderthal (neɪˈændərtɑːl also with /niː-/ and /-θɔːl/ or Neandertal, is an extinct member of the Homo genus that is known from The Loire River (lwaʁ in French) is the longest River in France. The term Paleolithic (or Palaeolithic) (from Greek παλαιός palaios, " Old " and λίθος Lithos, "stone"

The Menec alignments, the most well-known megalithic site among the Carnac stones
The Menec alignments, the most well-known megalithic site among the Carnac stones

In the Neolithic period (see Neolithic Europe), megalithic (large stone) monuments, such as the dolmens and menhirs at Carnac, Saint-Sulpice-de-Faleyrens and elsewhere in France begin to appear; this appearance is thought to start in the fifth millennium B. The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos Neolithic Europe is the time between roughly from 7000 BC (the approximate time of the first farming societies in Greece) to ca A dolmen (also known as cromlech, anta, Hünengrab, Hunebed, Goindol, quoit, and portal dolmen) is a type of A menhir is a large upright Standing stone. Menhirs may be found singly as Monoliths or as part of a group of similar stones The Carnac stones are an exceptionally dense collection of Megalithic sites around the French village of Carnac, in Brittany, consisting of alignments Saint-Sulpice-de-Faleyrens is a commune in the Gironde department in Aquitaine in southwestern France. C. , although some authors speculate about Mesolithic roots. The Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age was a period in the development of human technology in between the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age and the Neolithic or New Stone Age France has numerous painted stones, polished stone axes, and inscribed menhirs from this period.

In France from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age, one finds a variety of archaeological cultures, including the Rössen culture of c. The term Bronze Age refers to a period in human cultural development when the most advanced Metalworking (at least in systematic and widespread use included techniques for The Rössen Culture ( German: Rössener Kultur) is a Central European culture of the middle Neolithic (4600–4300 BC 4500—4000 B. C. , Beaker culture of c. The Bell-Beaker culture (sometimes shortened to Beaker culture, Beaker people, or Beaker folk; Glockenbecherkultur) ca 2800 – 1900 B. C. , Tumulus culture of c. The Tumulus culture dominated Central Europe during the Middle Bronze Age (ca 1600-1200 B. C. , Urnfield culture of c. The Urnfield culture (c 1300 BC - 750 BC) was a late Bronze Age culture of central Europe. 1300-800 B. C. , and, in a transition to the Iron Age, Hallstatt culture of c. This article is about the archaeological period known as the Iron Age for the mythological Iron Age see Ages of Man. The Hallstatt culture was the predominant 1200 - 500 B. C.

For more on Prehistoric sites in Western France, see Prehistory of Brittany. This page concerns the Prehistory of Brittany. Palaeolithic Brittany was never glaciated during the Quaternary, owing to its latitude proximity

Celtic and Roman periods

From the Proto-Celtic Urnfield and Hallstat cultures, a continental Iron age Celtic art developed; mainly associated with La Tène culture, which flourished during the late Iron Age from 450 B. Phonological reconstruction Consonants The phonological changes from Proto-Indo-European to Proto-Celtic Consonants may be summarised as follows This article is about the archaeological period known as the Iron Age for the mythological Iron Age see Ages of Man. Celts (ˈkɛlts or /ˈsɛlts/, see Names of the Celts The La Tène culture was a European Iron Age culture named after the archaeological site C. to the Roman conquest in the first century B. C. This art drew on native, classical and perhaps, the Mediterranean, oriental sources. The Celts of Gaul are known through numerous tombs and burial mounds found throughout France. Gaul (Gallia was the Roman name for the region of Western Europe comprising present day northern Italy, France, Belgium, western

Celtic art is ornamental, avoiding straight lines and only occasionally using symmetry, without the imitation of nature nor ideal of beauty central to the classical tradition, but apparently, often involves complex symbolism. Celtic art is art associated with various people known as Celts; those who spoke the Celtic languages in Europe from pre-history through to the modern period For the works or study of works from classical antiquity see Classics Classicism, in the arts, refers generally to This artwork includes a variety of styles and often incorporates subtly modified elements from other cultures, an example being the characteristic over-and-under interlacing which arrived in France only in the sixth century, although it was already used by Germanic artists. The 6th century is the period from 501 to 600 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe.

The region of Gaul (Latin: Gallia) came under the rule of the Roman Empire from the first century B. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial C. to the fifth century A. D. Monumental works from this period include the amphitheater in Orange, Vaucluse, the "Maison Carrée" at Nîmes, the Pont du Gard aqueduct, and the Roman baths, and the arena of Paris. The Théâtre antique d'Orange is an ancient Roman theatre, built early in the 1st Century A Orange ( Provençal Occitan: Aurenja in classical norm or Aurenjo in Mistralian norm norm is a town and commune in the The Maison Carrée at Nîmes in southern France is one of the best preserved temples to be found anywhere in the territory of the former Roman Empire. Nîmes ( Provençal Occitan: Nimes in both classical and Mistralian norms is a city in southern France. The Pont du Gard is an aqueduct in the South of France constructed by the Roman Empire, and located in Vers-Pont-du-Gard near Remoulins An aqueduct is an artificial channel that is constructed to convey water from one location to another Thermes de Cluny are an ancient Gallo-Roman ruin lying in the heart of Paris ' 5th arrondissement and which are partly subsumed into the Musée de Moyen The Arènes de Lutèce are among the most important remains from the Gallo-Roman era in Paris (formerly known as Lutèce in French or Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city

Théâtre antique d'Orange
Théâtre antique d'Orange

Medieval period

Merovingian art is the art and architecture of the Merovingian dynasty of the Franks, which lasted from the fifth century to the eighth century in present day France and Germany. The Théâtre antique d'Orange is an ancient Roman theatre, built early in the 1st Century A Merovingian art and architecture is the art and architecture of the Merovingian dynasty of the Franks, which lasted from the 5th century to the The Merovingians (also Merovings) were a Salian Frankish dynasty that came to rule the Franks in a region (known as Francia in Latin The Franks or Frankish people (Franci or gens Francorum) were West Germanic tribes first identified in the 3rd century as an Ethnic group The 5th century is the period from 401 to 500 in accordance with the Julian calendar in Anno Domini / Common Era. The 8th century is the period from 701 to 800 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. The advent of the Merovingian dynasty in Gaul during the fifth century led to important changes in the arts. Gaul (Gallia was the Roman name for the region of Western Europe comprising present day northern Italy, France, Belgium, western The 5th century is the period from 401 to 500 in accordance with the Julian calendar in Anno Domini / Common Era. In architecture, there was no longer the desire to build robust and harmonious buildings. Sculpture regressed to being little more than a simple technique for the ornamentation of sarcophagi, altars, and ecclesiastical furniture. A sarcophagus is a Funeral receptacle for a Corpse, most commonly carved or cut from stone An altar is any structure upon which Sacrifices or other offerings are made for religious purposes or some other sacred place where ceremonies take place On the other hand, the rise of gold work and manuscript illumination brought about a resurgence of Celtic decoration, which, with Christian and other contributions, constitutes the basis of Merovingian art. A goldsmith is a Metalworker who specializes in working with Gold and other Precious metals usually in modern times to make Jewelry. An illuminated manuscript is a Manuscript in which the text is supplemented by the addition of decoration such as decorated Initials borders and Celts (ˈkɛlts or /ˈsɛlts/, see Names of the Celts A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth The unification of the Frankish kingdom under Clovis I (465–511) and his successors, corresponded with the need to build churches. The Franks or Frankish people (Franci or gens Francorum) were West Germanic tribes first identified in the 3rd century as an Ethnic group Clovis I (c 466 &ndash 27 November 511) was the first King of the Franks to unite all the Frankish tribes under one ruler The plans for them probably were copied from Roman basilicas. The Architecture of Ancient Rome adopted the external Greek architecture for their own purposes which were so different from Greek buildings as to create a new The Latin word basilica (derived from Greek, Basiliké Stoà, Royal Stoa) was originally used to describe a Roman Unfortunately, these timber structures have not survived because of destruction by fire, whether accidental or caused by the Normans at the time of their incursions. The Normans were the people who gave their names to Normandy, a region in northern France.

Aachen Gospels, c. 820, an example of Carolingian illumination
Aachen Gospels, c. 820, an example of Carolingian illumination

Carolingian art is the approximate 120-year period from 750 to 900—during the reign of Charles Martel, Pippin the Younger, Charlemagne, and his immediate heirs—popularly known as the Carolingian Renaissance. An illuminated manuscript is a Manuscript in which the text is supplemented by the addition of decoration such as decorated Initials borders and See also Carolingian architecture Carolingian art is the roughly 120-year period from about AD 780 to 900 &mdash during the reign of Charles "The Hammer" Martel (Carolus Martellus Charles "the Hammer" (ca Pepin or Pippin (714 &ndash 24 September 768) called the Short, and often known as Pepin the Younger or Pepin III, was Charlemagne (ˈʃɑrlɨmeɪn Carolus Magnus or Karolus Magnus meaning Charles the Great) (747 – 28 January 814 was King of the Franks from 768 to his The Carolingian Renaissance was a period of intellectual and cultural revival occurring in the late eighth and ninth centuries with the peak of the activities The Carolingian era is the first period of the Medieval art movement known as Pre-Romanesque. Pre-Romanesque art and architecture is the period in Western European art from either the emergence of the Merovingian kingdom in about 500 or from the Carolingian For the first time, Northern European kings patronized classical Mediterranean Roman art forms, blending classical forms with Germanic ones, creating entirely new innovations in figurine line drawing, and setting the stage for the rise of Romanesque art and, eventually, Gothic art in the West. Romanesque art refers to the art of Western Europe from approximately 1000 AD to the rise of the Gothic style in the 13th century or later depending on region This article is about Gothic art See also Gothic architecture Gothic art was a Medieval art movement that lasted about 200

Illuminated manuscripts, metalwork, small-scale sculpture, mosaics, and frescos survive from the period. The Carolingians also undertook major architectural building campaigns at numerous churches in France. These include, those of Metz, Lyon, Vienne, Le Mans, Reims, Beauvais, Verdun, Saint-Germain in Auxerre, Saint-Pierre in Flavigny, and Saint-Denis, as well as the town center of Chartres. Metz (mɛs in French) is a city in the northeast of France, capital of the Lorraine région and Préfecture ||-||} Lyon, also known as Lyons in English is a city in east-central France. This article is about the French department Do not confuse with the Austrian capital Vienna. Le Mans (ləmɑ̃ in French) is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. Reims (alternative English spelling Rheims; riːmz in English and /ʁɛ̃s/ in French) is a city of the Champagne-Ardenne région of northern Beauvais is a town and commune of northern France, Préfecture (capital of the Oise département. Verdun (medieval Wirten official name before 1970 Verdun-sur-Meuse) is a city and commune Auxerre (pronounced) is a commune in the Bourgogne region of north-central France, between Paris and Dijon. Saint-Denis is a commune in the northern suburbs of Paris, France. Chartres is a town and commune and capital of the Eure-et-Loir department in north-central France It is located 96 km southwest of Paris The Centula Abbey of Saint-Riquier (Somme), completed in 788, was a major achievement in monastic architecture. Saint-Riquier is a commune in the Somme département in the Picardie region of France. The Somme is a department of France, located in the north of the country and named after the Somme river. Another important building (mostly lost today) was "Theodulf's Villa" in Germigny-des-Prés. Germigny-des-Prés is a commune of the Loiret département, in France.

With the end of Carolingian rule around 900, artistic production halted for almost three generations. After the demise of the Carolingian Empire, France split into a number of feuding provinces, lacking any organized patronage. French art of the tenth and eleventh centuries was produced by local monasteries to promote literacy and piety, however, the primitive styles produced were not so highly skilled as the techniques of the earlier Carolingian period.

Multiple regional styles developed based on the chance availability of Carolingian manuscripts as models to copy, and the availability of itinerant artists. The monastery of Saint Bertin became an important center under its abbot Odbert (986-1007), who created a new style based on Anglo-Saxon and Carolingian forms. The nearby abbey of St. Vaast (Pas-de-Calais) also created a number of important works. St Vaast's Abbey was a Benedictine monastery situated at Arras, département of Pas-de-Calais, France. In southwestern France a number of manuscripts were produced c. 1000, at the monastery of Saint Martial in Limoges, as well as at Albi, Figeac, and Saint-Sever-de-Rustan in Gascogne. Saint Martial was the first Bishop of Limoges in today's France, according to a lost Vita of Saturnin, first Bishop of Toulouse Limoges ( Lemòtges / Limòtges in the Limousin dialect of Occitan language) is a city and commune in France, the préfecture For the city in Calabria Italy see Albi Italy. Albi is a commune in southern France. Figeac (Fijac is a town in the Lot département in Quercy, Midi-Pyrénées, southwestern France. Saint-Sever-de-Rustan is a commune of the Hautes-Pyrénées département, in southwestern France. Gascony (Gascogne gaskɔɲ Gascon Occitan: Gasconha, pronounced) is an area of southwest France that constituted a province of France In Paris a unique style developed at the abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. The Benedictine Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, just beyond the outskirts of early medieval Paris, was the burial place of Merovingian kings of In Normandy a new style arose in 975. Normandy (Normandie Norman: Normaundie) is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. By the later tenth century with the Cluny reform movement and a revived spirit for the concept of Empire, art production resumed. The town and commune of Cluny or Clugny lies in the modern-day département of Saône-et-Loire in the région

Romanesque art refers to the art of Western Europe during a period of two hundred and fifty years, from approximately 1000 A. Romanesque art refers to the art of Western Europe from approximately 1000 AD to the rise of the Gothic style in the 13th century or later depending on region D. to the rise of the Gothic style, which arose in the middle of the twelfth century in France. This article is about Gothic art See also Gothic architecture Gothic art was a Medieval art movement that lasted about 200 "Romanesque Art" was marked by a renewed interest in Roman construction techniques. For example, the twelfth-century capitals on the cloister of Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, adopt an acanthus-leaf motif and the decorative use of drill holes, which were commonly found on Roman monuments. Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert (in Occitan Sant Guilhèm dau Desèrt) is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon The acanthus is one of the most common ornaments used to depict foliage In art a motif is a repeated idea pattern image or theme Paisley designs are referred to as motifs Other important Romanesque buildings in France include the abbey of Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire in Loiret, the churches of Saint-Foy in Conques of Aveyron, Saint-Martin in Tours, Saint-Philibert in Tournus of Saône-et-Loire, Saint-Remi in Reims, and Saint-Sernin in Toulouse. Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire is a commune of the Loiret département, in France. Loiret is a department in north-central France named after the Loiret River. Conques ( Concas in Occitan) is a commune in the Aveyron department in southwestern France. Aveyron ( Occitan: Avairon) is a department in southern France named after the Aveyron River. Tours is a city in France the Préfecture (capital city of the Indre-et-Loire département, on the lower reaches of the river Tournus is a commune of the Saône-et-Loire département, in east-central France. Saône-et-Loire ( Sona-et-Lêre in Arpitan language is a French department, named after the Saône and the Loire The Abbey of Saint-Remi is an Abbey in Reims, France, founded in the sixth century Reims (alternative English spelling Rheims; riːmz in English and /ʁɛ̃s/ in French) is a city of the Champagne-Ardenne région of northern Saint-Sernin basilica located in Toulouse France was built during the Romanesque Period between AD 1080 and 1120 Toulouse ( pronounced in standard French, and in the local accent ( Occitan: Tolosa, pronounced) is a city in southwest In particular, Normandy experienced a large building campaign in the churches of Bernay, Mont-Saint-Michel, Coutances Cathedral, and Bayeux. Normandy (Normandie Norman: Normaundie) is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. Mont Saint-Michel ( English: St Michael's Mount) is a rocky Tidal island in Normandy, France. Coutances Cathedral ( Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Coutances) is a Gothic Roman Catholic Cathedral in the town of Coutances, Bayeux (bajø is a commune in the Calvados département, in Normandy in northwestern France.

Most Romanesque sculpture was integrated into church architecture, not only for aesthetic, but also for structural, purposes. Small-scale sculpture during the pre-Romanesque period was influenced by Byzantine and Early Christian sculpture. Early Christianity is commonly defined as the Christianity of the three centuries between the Crucifixion of Jesus ( c Other elements were adopted from various local styles of Middle Eastern countries. Motifs were derived from the arts of the "barbarian," such as grotesque figures, beasts, and geometric patterns, which were all important additions, particularly in the regions north of the Alps. Among the important sculptural works of the period are the ivory carvings at the monastery of Saint Gall. The Abbey of St Gall (Sankt Gallen was for many centuries one of the chief Benedictine Abbeys in Europe Monumental sculpture was rarely practiced separately from architecture in the Pre-Romanesque period. For the first time after the fall of the Roman empire, monumental sculpture emerged as a significant art form. Covered church facades, doorways, and capitals all increased and expanded in size and importance, as in the Last Judgment Tympanum, Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, and the Standing Prophet at Moissac. A facade or façade (fəˈsɑːd is generally one side of the exterior of a Building, especially the front but also sometimes the sides and rear In Christian eschatology, the Last Judgment or Day of the Lord is the judgment by God of every human who ever lived A tympanum (plural tympana is the semi-circular or triangular decorative wall surface over an entrance bounded by a Lintel and Arch. Moissac is a town and commune of the Tarn-et-Garonne département, in southwestern France. Monumental doors, baptismal fonts, and candle holders, frequently decorated with scenes from biblical history, were cast in bronze, attesting to the skills of the contemporary metalworkers. Frescoes were applied to the vaults and walls of churches. Rich textiles and precious objects in gold and silver, such as chalices and reliquaries, were produced in increasing numbers to meet the needs of the liturgy, and to serve the cult of the saints. In the twelfth century, large-scale stone sculpture spread throughout Europe. In the French Romanesque churches of Provence, Burgundy, and Aquitaine, sculptures adorned the facades and statues were incorporated into the capitals. Provence ( Provençal Occitan: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm is a region of southeastern France Burgundy (Bourgogne Burgund is a region historically situated in modern-day France and Switzerland, inhabited in turn by Celts ( Gauls) Aquitaine (Aquitània Akitania archaic Guyenne / Guienne (Occitan Guiana) is one of the 26 Regions of France, in the south-western part of

The Western (Royal) Portal at Chartres Cathedral, c. 1145, these architectural statues are the earliest Gothic sculptures, a revolution in style and the models for a generation of sculptors
The Western (Royal) Portal at Chartres Cathedral, c. 1145, these architectural statues are the earliest Gothic sculptures, a revolution in style and the models for a generation of sculptors

Gothic art and architecture were products of a Medieval art movement that lasted about three hundred years. This article is about Gothic art See also Gothic architecture Gothic art was a Medieval art movement that lasted about 200 See also Gothic art Gothic architecture is a style of Architecture which flourished during the high and late medieval period. It began in France, developing from the Romanesque period in the mid-twelfth century. By the late fourteenth century, it had evolved toward a more secular and natural style known as, International Gothic, which continued until the late fifteenth century, when it evolved further, into Renaissance art. International Gothic is a phase of Gothic art which developed in Burgundy, Bohemia, France and northern Italy in the late The Renaissance (from French Renaissance, meaning "rebirth" Italian: Rinascimento, from re- "again" and nascere The primary Gothic art media were sculpture, panel painting, stained glass, fresco, and illuminated manuscript. A panel painting is a Painting on a panel made of wood either a single piece or a number of pieces joined together For the Blackford Oakes novel see Stained Glass (novel The term stained glass refers either to the material of coloured Glass or to the art Fresco (plural either frescos or frescoes) is any of several related Painting types done on Plaster on walls or An illuminated manuscript is a Manuscript in which the text is supplemented by the addition of decoration such as decorated Initials borders and

Gothic architecture was born in the middle of the twelfth century in Île-de-France, when Abbot Suger built the abbey at St. Denis, c. Île-de-France is one of the ancient Provinces of France, and the one that has been the centre of power during most of French history. Suger (c 1081 &ndash 13 January 1151) was one of the last French abbot-statesmen a historian and the influential first patron of Gothic architecture Saint Denis (also called Dionysius, Dennis, or Denys) is a Christian martyr and Saint. 1140, considered the first Gothic building, and soon afterward, the Chartres Cathedral, c. 1145. Prior to this, there had been no sculpture tradition in Ile-de-France—so sculptors were brought in from Burgundy, who created the revolutionary figures acting as columns in the Western (Royal) Portal of Chartres Cathedral (see image) —it was an entirely new invention in French art, and would provide the model for a generation of sculptors. Burgundy (Bourgogne Burgund is a region historically situated in modern-day France and Switzerland, inhabited in turn by Celts ( Gauls) Other notable Gothic churches in France include Bourges Cathedral, Amiens Cathedral, Notre-Dame de Laon, Notre Dame in Paris, Reims Cathedral, the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris, Strasbourg Cathedral. Bourges Cathedral ( Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Bourges) is a Cathedral, dedicated to Saint Stephen, located in Bourges, France The Cathedral of Our Lady of Amiens (French Cathédrale Notre-Dame d'Amiens) or simply Amiens Cathedral, is the tallest complete Cathedral in The cathedral of Notre-Dame of Laon is one of the most important examples of the Gothic architecture of the 12th and 13th centuries ranking with the cathedrals of Saint-Étienne NotreDameFlyingButtressjpg|right|thumb|250px|Notre Dame de Paris Flying Buttress]] Notre Dame de Paris is a Gothic Cathedral on the eastern half of the Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city Notre-Dame de Reims ( Our Lady of Rheims) is the Cathedral of Reims, where the kings of France were once crowned La Sainte-Chapelle (The Holy Chapel is a Gothic Chapel on the Île de la Cité in the heart of Paris, France. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city Strasbourg Cathedral or the Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg (Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-Strasbourg Liebfrauenmünster zu Straßburg is a Roman Catholic

The designations of styles in French Gothic architecture are as follows: Early Gothic, High Gothic, Rayonnant, and Late Gothic or "Flamboyant". Division into these divisions is effective, but debatable. Because Gothic cathedrals were built over several successive periods, and the artisans of each period not necessarily following the wishes of previous periods, the dominant architectural style often changed during the building of a particular building. Consequently, it is difficult to declare one building as belonging to certain era of Gothic architecture. It is more useful to use the terms as descriptors for specific elements within a structure, rather than applying it to the building as a whole.

The French ideas spread. Gothic sculpture evolved from the early stiff and elongated style, still partly Romanesque, into a spatial and naturalistic treatment in the late twelfth and early thirteenth century. Influences from surviving ancient Greek and Roman sculptures were incorporated into the treatment of drapery, facial expression, and pose of the Dutch-Burgundian sculptor, Claus Sluter, and the taste for naturalism first signaled the end of Gothic sculpture, evolving into the classicistic Renaissance style by the end of the fifteenth century. Claus Sluter (born 1340s in Haarlem; died in 1405 or 1406 Dijon) was a sculptor of Dutch origin

Painting in a style that may be called, "Gothic," did not appear until about 1200, nearly fifty years after the start of Gothic architecture and sculpture. The transition from Romanesque to Gothic is very imprecise and by no means clearly delineated, but one may see the beginning of a style that is more somber, dark, and emotional than the previous period. This transition occurs first in England and France around 1200, in Germany around 1220, and in Italy around 1300. Painting, the representation of images on a surface, was practiced during the Gothic period in four primary crafts, frescos, panel paintings, manuscript illumination, and stained glass. Fresco (plural either frescos or frescoes) is any of several related Painting types done on Plaster on walls or A panel painting is a Painting on a panel made of wood either a single piece or a number of pieces joined together An illuminated manuscript is a Manuscript in which the text is supplemented by the addition of decoration such as decorated Initials borders and For the Blackford Oakes novel see Stained Glass (novel The term stained glass refers either to the material of coloured Glass or to the art Frescoes continued to be used as the main pictorial narrative craft on church walls in southern Europe as a continuation of early Christian and Romanesque traditions. In the north, stained glass remained the dominant art form until the fifteenth century.

Early Modern period

Main article: French Renaissance

In the late fifteenth century, the French invasion of Italy and the proximity of the vibrant Burgundy court, with its Flemish connections, brought the French into contact with the goods, paintings, and the creative spirit of the Northern and Italian Renaissance. French Renaissance is a recent term used to describe a cultural and artistic movement in France from the late 15th century to the early 17th century Burgundy (Bourgogne Burgund is a region historically situated in modern-day France and Switzerland, inhabited in turn by Celts ( Gauls) The Northern Renaissance is the term used to describe the Renaissance in Northern Europe, or more broadly in Europe outside Italy. The Italian Renaissance began the opening phase of the Renaissance, a period of great cultural change and achievement in Europe that spanned the period from the end of the 14th Initial artistic changes at that time in France were executed by Italian and Flemish artists, such as Jean Clouet and his son François Clouet, along with the Italians, Rosso Fiorentino, Francesco Primaticcio, and Niccolò dell'Abbate of what is often called the first School of Fontainebleau from 1531. Jean (or Janet Clouet (1480 - 1541 was a Miniaturist and painter who worked in France during the Renaissance. François Clouet (c 1510 &ndash 22 December 1572) son of Jean Clouet, was a French Renaissance Miniaturist and painter particularly Giovanni Battista di Jacopo (1494-1540 known as Rosso Fiorentino (meaning "the Red Florentine" in Italian or Il Rosso, was an Italian Francesco Primaticcio ( April 30, 1504 &ndash 1570 was an Italian Mannerist painter, Architect and sculptor Nicolò dell' Abate, sometimes Niccolò, (1509 or 1512 &ndash 1571 was an Italian painter and decorator The Ecole de Fontainebleau refers to two periods of artistic production in France during the late Renaissance centered around the royal Château de Fontainebleau Leonardo da Vinci also was invited to France by François I, but other than the paintings which he brought with him, he produced little for the French king. Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci ( April 15 1452 – May 2 1519 was an Italian Polymath, having been a scientist Mathematician, Engineer

"Diane the Huntress" - School of Fontainebleau, 1550-60
"Diane the Huntress" - School of Fontainebleau, 1550-60

The art of the period from François I through Henri IV often is heavily inspired by late Italian pictorial and sculptural developments commonly referred to as Mannerism, which is associated with Michelangelo and Parmigianino, among others. Mannerism is a period of European art which emerged from the later years of the Italian High Renaissance around 1520. Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni Two biographies were published of him during his lifetime One of them by Giorgio Vasari, proposed that he was the pinnacle of all Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola ( 11 January 1503 - 24 August 1540) also known as Francesco Mazzola or more commonly as It is characterized by figures which are elongated and graceful that rely upon visual rhetoric, including the elaborate use of allegory and mythology. Rhetoric has had many definitions no simple definition can do it justice An allegory (from αλλος allos "other" and el αγορευειν agoreuein "to speak in public" is a figurative mode of representation The word mythology (from the Greek grc μυθολογία mythología, meaning "a story-telling a legendary lore" Perhaps the greatest accomplishment of the French Renaissance was the construction of the Châteaux of the Loire Valley. Loire Valley (Vallée de la Loire is known as the Garden of France and the Cradle of the French Language. No longer conceived of as fortresses, such pleasure palaces took advantage of the richness of the rivers and lands of the Loire region and they show remarkable architectural skill.

Main article: French Baroque and Classicism

In the early part of the seventeenth century, late mannerist and early Baroque tendencies continued to flourish in the court of Marie de Medici and Louis XIII. This article part of the French art history series covers the history of the visual and plastic arts in France in the 17th century Mannerism is a period of European art which emerged from the later years of the Italian High Renaissance around 1520. Baroque art redirects here Please disambiguate such links to Baroque painting, Baroque sculpture, etc Marie de' Medici ( April 26, 1575 &ndash July 3, 1642) was Queen consort of France. For the cognac see Louis XIII de Rémy Martin. Louis XIII ( September 27, 1601 – May 14, 1643) Art from this period shows influences from both the north of Europe, namely the Dutch and Flemish schools, and from Roman painters of the Counter-Reformation. The Counter-Reformation (also Catholic Reformation denotes the period of Catholic revival from the pontificate of Pope Pius IV in 1560 to the close of the Artists in France frequently debated the contrasting merits of Peter Paul Rubens with his the Flemish baroque, voluptuous lines and colors to Nicolas Poussin with his rational control, proportion, Roman classicism. Nicolas Poussin (15 June 1594 – 19 November 1665 was a French painter in the classical style

Les Bergers d’Arcadie by Nicolas Poussin
Les Bergers d’Arcadie by Nicolas Poussin

There was also a strong Caravaggisti school represented in the period by the amazing candle-lit paintings of Georges de La Tour. "Et in Arcadia ego" is a Latin phrase that most famously appears as the title of two paintings by Nicolas Poussin ( 1594 &ndash 1665) Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, usually just known as Caravaggio, (28 September 1571 – 18 July 1610 was an Italian Artist active in Rome Georges de La Tour ( Vic-sur-Seille, March 13, 1593 &ndash Lunéville, January 30, 1652) was a painter, The wretched and the poor were featured in a quasi-Dutch manner in the paintings by the three Le Nain brothers. The three Le Nain brothers were painters in 17th-century France: Antoine Le Nain (c In the paintings of Philippe de Champaigne there are both propagandistic portraits of Louis XIII' s minister Cardinal Richelieu and other more contemplative portraits of people in the Catholic Jansenist sect. Philippe de Champaigne ( 26 May 1602 - 12 August 1674) was a Baroque era painter of the French school. For the cognac see Louis XIII de Rémy Martin. Louis XIII ( September 27, 1601 – May 14, 1643) This article is about a cardinal For information on the Russian also called The Red Eminence, see Mikhail Andreyevich Suslov. Jansenism was a branch of Catholic Gallican thought which arose in the frame of the Counter-Reformation and the aftermath of the Council of Trent

From the mid to late seventeenth century, French art is more often referred to by the term "Classicism" which implies an adherence to certain rules of proportion and sobriety uncharacteristic of the Baroque, as it was practiced in southern and eastern Europe during the same period. Under Louis XIV, the Baroque as it was practiced in Italy, was not in French taste, for instance, as Bernini's famous proposal for redesigning the Louvre was rejected by Louis XIV. Early years Birth and ancestry Louis XIV was born in the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye on September 5 1638 and bore the Heir apparent "Bernini" redirects here For people named Bernini see Bernini (surname. Through propaganda, wars, and great architectural works, Louis XIV launched a vast program designed for the glorification of France and his name. Propaganda is a concerted set of messages aimed at influencing the opinions or behaviors of large numbers of people Early years Birth and ancestry Louis XIV was born in the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye on September 5 1638 and bore the Heir apparent The Palace of Versailles, initially a tiny hunting lodge built by his father, was transformed by Louis XIV into a marvelous palace for fêtes and parties, under the direction of architect Louis Le Vau, painter and designer Charles Le Brun, and the landscape architect André Le Nôtre. The Palace of Versailles, or simply Versailles, is a royal Château in Versailles, in France 's Île-de-France region Louis Le Vau (1612 – October 11 1670) was a French Classical Architect who worked for Louis XIV of France. Charles Le Brun (24 February 1619 - 22 February 1690 was a French painter and art theorist, one of the dominant artists in 17th century France. André Le Nôtre ( March 12, 1613 &ndash September 15 1700) was a Landscape architect and the gardener of King Louis XIV

Main article: French Rococo and Neoclassicism

Rococo and Neoclassicism are terms used to describe the visual and plastic arts and architecture in Europe from the late seventeenth to the late eighteenth centuries. This article part of the French art history series covers the history of the visual and plastic arts in France from the late 17th to the late 18th centuries Rococo is a style of 18th century French art and Interior design. Neoclassicism (sometimes rendered as Neo-Classicism or Neo-classicism) is the name given to quite distinct movements in the decorative and In France, the death of Louis XIV lead to a period of freedom commonly called the Régence. Early years Birth and ancestry Louis XIV was born in the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye on September 5 1638 and bore the Heir apparent The Régence is the period in French history between 1715 and 1723, when King Louis XV was a minor and the land was governed Versailles was abandoned from 1715 to 1722. Painting turned toward "fêtes galantes", theater settings, and the female nude. Painters from this period include Antoine Watteau, Nicolas Lancret, and François Boucher. Jean-Antoine Watteau ( October 10, 1684 – July 18, 1721) was a French painter whose brief career spurred the revival of Nicolas Lancret ( 22 January 1690 &ndash 14 September 1743) French painter, was born in Paris, and became a brilliant François Boucher ( September 29 1703 – May 30 1770) was a French painter, a proponent of Rococo taste The Louis XV style of decoration, although already apparent at the end of the last reign, was lighter with pastel colors, wood panels, smaller rooms, less gilding, and fewer brocades; shells, garlands, and occasional Chinese subjects predominated. The Louis XV style or Louis Quinze was a French Rococo style in the Decorative arts, and to a lesser degree Architecture Rooms were more intimate.

Inspiration by Jean-Honoré Fragonard
Inspiration by Jean-Honoré Fragonard

The latter half of the eighteenth century continued to see French preeminence in Europe, particularly through the arts and sciences, and the speaking the French language was expected for members of the European courts, hence the term, lingua franca, for the accepted language. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people The French academic system continued to produce artists, but some, such as Jean-Honoré Fragonard and Jean-Baptiste Siméon Chardin, explored new and increasingly impressionist styles of painting with thick brushwork. Jean-Honoré Fragonard ( April 5, 1732 &ndash August 22, 1806) was a French painter and Printmaker whose late Rococo Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin ( November 2, 1699 &ndash December 6, 1779) was an 18th-century French painter. Although the hierarchy of genres continued to be respected officially, genre painting, landscape, portrait, and still life were extremely fashionable. Genre works, also called genre scenes or genre views, are pictorial representations in any of various media that represent scenes or events from everyday life Landscape comprises the visible features of an area of land including physical elements such as Landforms living elements of flora and fauna abstract elements such as lighting A portrait is a painting, photograph, Sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person in which the face and its expression is predominant This article is about Still Life (or still lifes as plural the art form

One also finds in this period a Pre-romanticism aspect. Hubert Robert's images of ruins, inspired by Italian cappricio paintings, are typical in this respect. Hubert Robert ( 22 May 1733 - April 15, 1808) French Artist, was born in Paris. So too the change from the rational and geometrical French garden of André Le Nôtre to the English garden, which emphasized artificially wild and irrational nature. André Le Nôtre ( March 12, 1613 &ndash September 15 1700) was a Landscape architect and the gardener of King Louis XIV One also finds in some of these gardens—curious ruins of temples—called "follies".

The middle of the eighteenth century saw a turn to Neoclassicism in France, that is to say a conscious use of Greek and Roman forms and iconography. Neoclassicism (sometimes rendered as Neo-Classicism or Neo-classicism) is the name given to quite distinct movements in the decorative and Iconography is the branch of Art history which studies the identification description and the interpretation of the content of images In painting, the greatest representative of this style is Jacques Louis David, who, mirroring the profiles of Greek vases, emphasized the use of the profile. Jacques-Louis David (August 30 1748 &ndash December 29 1825 was a highly influential French painter in the Neoclassical style considered to be His subject matter often involved classical history such as the death of Socrates and Brutus. The dignity and subject matter of his paintings were greatly inspired by Nicolas Poussin in the seventeenth century. Nicolas Poussin (15 June 1594 – 19 November 1665 was a French painter in the classical style

Modern period

Main article: French art of the 19th century

The French Revolution and the Napoleonic wars brought great changes to the arts in France. French art of the nineteenth century, part of the French art history series covers the visual and plastic works of art made in France or by French citizens during the following The French Revolution (1789–1799 was a period of political and social upheaval in the History of France, during which the French governmental structure previously an The Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815 involved Napoleon's French Empire and a shifting set of European allies and opposing coalitions The program of exaltation and myth making attendant to the Emperor Napoleon I of France was closely coordinated in the paintings of Gros and Guérin. Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821 was a French military and political leader who had a significant impact on the History of Europe. Meanwhile, Orientalism, Egyptian motifs, the tragic anti-hero, the wild landscape, the historical novel, and scenes from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance—all these elements of Romanticism—created a vibrant period that defies easy classification. Orientalism refers to the imitation or depiction of aspects of Eastern cultures in the West by writers designers and artists and can also refer to a sympathetic stance An historical novel is a Novel in which the story is set among historical events or more generally in which the time of the action predates the lifetime of the Author Romanticism is a complex artistic literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Western Europe, and gained strength during the

The Massacre at Scio - Eugène Delacroix
The Massacre at Scio - Eugène Delacroix

Romantic tendencies continued throughout the century, both idealized landscape painting and Naturalism have their seeds in Romanticism. Naturalism in art refers to the depiction of realistic objects in a natural setting The work of Gustave Courbet and the Barbizon school are logical developments from it, as is the late nineteenth century Symbolism of such painters as Gustave Moreau, the professor of Matisse and Rouault, as well as Odilon Redon. For the French Admiral see Admiral Courbet (1828-1885 Jean Désiré Gustave Courbet ( 10 June 1819 &ndash The Barbizon school (circa 1830&ndash1870 of painters is named after the village of Barbizon near Fontainebleau Forest, France, where the artists gathered Symbolism was a late nineteenth-century Art movement of French and Belgian origin in poetry and other arts Gustave Moreau ( April 6, 1826 &ndash April 18, 1898) was a French Symbolist painter. Henri Matisse (31 December 1869 – 3 November 1954 was a French Artist, known for his use of Colour and his fluid brilliant and original draughtsmanship Bertrand-Jean Redon, better known as Odilon Redon ( April 20, 1840 &ndash July 6, 1916) was a Symbolist painter and

For many critics Édouard Manet wrote of the the nineteenth century and the modern period (much as Charles Baudelaire does in poetry). His rediscovery of Spanish painting from the golden age, his willingness to show the unpainted canvas, his exploration of the forthright nude, and his radical brush strokes are the first steps toward Impressionism. Impressionism would take the Barbizon school one step farther, rejecting once and for all a belabored style and the use of mixed colors and black, for fragile transitive effects of light as captured outdoors in changing light (partly inspired by the paintings of J. M. W. Turner). Impressionism was a 19th-century Art movement that began as a loose association of Paris -based Artists exhibiting their art publicly in the 1860s The Barbizon school (circa 1830&ndash1870 of painters is named after the village of Barbizon near Fontainebleau Forest, France, where the artists gathered Joseph Mallord William Turner (23 April 1775 &ndash 19 December 1851 was an English Romantic landscape painter, Watercolourist and It led to Claude Monet with his cathedrals and haystacks, Pierre-Auguste Renoir with both his early outdoor festivals and his later feathery style of ruddy nudes, Edgar Degas with his dancers and bathers. Claude Monet ( French klod mɔnɛ also known as Oscar-Claude Monet or Claude Oscar Monet (14 November 1840 &ndash 5 December 1926 was a founder Pierre-Auguste Renoir ( February 25, 1841 &ndash December 3, 1919) was a French Artist who was a leading painter in

After that threshold was crossed, the next thirty years became a litany of amazing experiments. Vincent van Gogh, Dutch born, but living in France, opened the road to expressionism. Expressionism is the tendency of an artist to distort reality for an Emotional effect it is a subjective art form Georges Seurat, influenced by color theory, devised a pointillist technique that governed the Impressionist experiment. Georges-Pierre Seurat ( December 2, 1859  &ndash March 29, 1891) was a French painter and Draftsman. See also Neo-Impressionism Pointillism is a style of Painting in which small distinct points of Primary colors create the impression of a wide selection Paul Cézanne, a painter's painter, attempted a geometrical exploration of the world, that left many of his peers indifferent. Paul Gauguin, a banker, found symbolism in Brittany and then exoticism and primitivism in French Polynesia. Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin (7 June 1848 – 8 May 1903 was a leading Post-Impressionist painter. Brittany (Breizh bʁejs Bretagne; Gallo: Bertaèyn) is a former independent Celtic kingdom and Duchy, now incorporated into French Polynesia ( French: Polynésie française, Tahitian: Pōrīnetia Farāni) is a French Overseas collectivity in the Henri Rousseau, the self-taught dabbling postmaster, became the model for the naïve revolution. Henri Julien Félix Rousseau ( May 21, 1844 &ndash September 2, 1910) was a French Post-Impressionist painter in the

Main article: French art of the 20th century

The early years of the twentieth century were dominated by experiments in colour and content that Impressionism and Post-Impressionism had unleashed. French art of the 20th century, part of the French art history series covers the history of the visual and plastic arts in France in the twentieth century Impressionism was a 19th-century Art movement that began as a loose association of Paris -based Artists exhibiting their art publicly in the 1860s Post-Impressionism is the term coined by the British artist and Art critic Roger Fry in 1910 to describe the development of French art since Manet. The products of the far east also brought new influences. Les Nabis explored a decorative art in flat plains with the graphic approach of a Japanese print. Les Nabis were a group of Post-Impressionist Avant-garde artists who set the pace for Fine arts and Graphic arts in France in At roughly the same time, Les Fauves, exploded into color, much like German Expressionism. Les Fauves ( French for The Wild Beasts) were a short-lived and loose grouping of early Expressionism is the tendency of an artist to distort reality for an Emotional effect it is a subjective art form

The discovery of African tribal masks by Pablo Picasso, a Spaniard living in Paris, lead him to create his Les Demoiselles d'Avignon of 1907. Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Martyr Patricio Clito Ruíz y Picasso (October 25 1881 &ndash April 8 1973 Les Demoiselles d'Avignon ( The Young Ladies of Avignon) is a large Oil painting by Pablo Picasso that depicts five Prostitutes Working independently, Picasso and Georges Braque returned to and refined Cézanne's way of rationally comprehension of objects in a flat medium, heir experiments in cubism also would lead them to integrate all aspects and objects of day to day life, collage of newspapers, musical instruments, cigarettes, wine, and other objects into their works. Georges Braque ( May 13, 1882 &ndash August 31, 1963) was a major 20th century French painter and sculptor Cubism was a 20th century Avant-garde Art movement, pioneered by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, that revolutionized European A collage (From the coller to glue is a work of formal art primarily in the Visual arts, made from an assemblage of different forms thus creating a new whole Cubism in all its phases would dominate paintings of Europe and America for the next ten years. Cubism was a 20th century Avant-garde Art movement, pioneered by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, that revolutionized European (See the article on Cubism for a complete discussion. Cubism was a 20th century Avant-garde Art movement, pioneered by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, that revolutionized European )

World War I did not stop the dynamic creation of art in France. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All In 1916 a group of discontents met in a bar in Zurich, the Cabaret Voltaire, and created the most radical gesture possible, the anti-art of Dada. Cabaret Voltaire was the name of a Nightclub in Zürich, Switzerland. For other meanings see Dada (disambiguation DaDa is a Concept album by Alice Cooper, released At the same time, Francis Picabia and Marcel Duchamp were exploring similar notions. Francis-Marie Martinez Picabia ( January 22, 1879 - November 30, 1953) was a well-known painter and poet born of a French mother and Marcel Duchamp (maʀsɛl dyˈʃɑ̃ (28 July 1887 &ndash 2 October 1968 was a French artist whose work is most often associated with the Dadaist and Surrealist At a 1917 art show in New York, Duchamp presented a white porcelain urinal (Fountain) signed R. The City of New York Fountain is a 1917 work by Marcel Duchamp. It is one of the pieces which he called readymades (also known as Found art Mutt as work of art, becoming the father of the readymade. The readymades of Marcel Duchamp are ordinary manufactured objects that he selected and modified as an antidote to what he called "retinal art"

When Dada reached Paris, it was avidly embraced by a group of young artists and writers who were fascinated with the writings of Sigmund Freud, particularly by his notion of the unconscious mind. For other meanings see Dada (disambiguation DaDa is a Concept album by Alice Cooper, released Sigmund Freud (ˈziːkmʊnt ˈfʁɔʏt born Sigismund Shlomo Freud (May 6 1856 &ndash September 23 1939 was an Austrian Psychiatrist who founded Many observers throughout history have argued that there are influences on Consciousness from other parts of the Mind. The provocative spirit of Dada became linked to the exploration of the unconscious mind through the use of automatic writing, chance operations, and, in some cases, altered states. Automatic writing is the process or product of writing material that does not come from the conscious thoughts of the writer The surrealists quickly turned to painting and sculpture. Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early-1920s and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members The shock of unexpected elements, the use of Frottage, collage, and decalcomania, the rendering of mysterious landscapes and dreamed images were to become the key techniques through the rest of the 1930s. In Art, frottage (from French frotter, "to rub" is a surrealist and "automatic" method of creative production developed by A collage (From the coller to glue is a work of formal art primarily in the Visual arts, made from an assemblage of different forms thus creating a new whole Decalcomania, from the French décalcomanie, is a decorative technique by which engravings and prints may be transferred to pottery or other materials

Immediately after this war the French art scene diverged roughly into in two directions. There were those who continued in the artistic experiments from before the war, especially surrealism, and others who adopted the new Abstract Expressionism and action painting from New York, executing them in a French manner using Tachism or L'art informel. Abstract expressionism was an American post– World War II Art movement. Action painting, sometimes called "gestural abstraction", is a style of Painting in which paint is spontaneously dribbled splashed or smeared onto the canvas Tachisme (alternative spelling Tachism, derived from the French word tache - stain was a French style of abstract Painting in the 1940s and Tachisme (alternative spelling Tachism, derived from the French word tache - stain was a French style of abstract Painting in the 1940s and Parallel to both of these tendencies, Jean Dubuffet dominated the early post-war years while exploring child-like drawings, graffiti, and cartoons in a variety of media. Jean Philippe Arthur Dubuffet ( July 31, 1901 - May 12, 1985) was one of the most famous French painters and sculptors

The late 1950s and early 1960s in France saw art forms that might be considered Pop Art. Pop Art is a visual Art movement that emerged in the mid 1950s in Britain and in parallel in the late 1950s in the United States. Yves Klein had attractive nude women roll around in blue paint and throw themselves at canvases. Yves Klein ( 28 April 1928 - 6 June 1962) was a French artist and is considered an important figure in post-war European Victor Vasarely invented Op-Art by designing sophisticated optical patterns. Victor Vasarely (Vásárhelyi Győző ( 9 April, 1906, Pécs - 15 March, 1997, Paris) was a Hungarian Op art, also known as optical art, is a genre of visual Art, especially Painting, that makes use of Optical illusions Op art is also known as Artists of the Fluxus movement such as Ben Vautier incorporated graffiti and found objects into their work. Fluxus —a name taken from a Latin word meaning "to flow"—is an international network of artists composers and designers noted for blending different artistic media Ben Vautier (born on July 18 1935 in Naples, Italy) also known simply as Ben, is a French artist Graffiti (singular graffito; the plural is used as a Mass noun) is the name for images or lettering scratched scrawled painted or marked in any manner on property Niki de Saint-Phalle created bloated and vibrant plastic figures. Niki de Saint Phalle, born Catherine-Marie-Agnès Fal de Saint Phalle ( October 29 1930 &ndash May 22, 2002) was a French Arman gathered together found objects in boxed or resin-coated assemblages, and César Baldaccini produced a series of large compressed object-sculptures. Arman ( November 17, 1928 &ndash October 22, 2005) was a French -born American Artist. César Baldaccini ( January 1, 1921 in Marseille - December 6, 1998 in Paris) was a noted French sculptor In May 1968, the radical youth movement, through their atelier populaire, produced a great deal of poster-art protesting the moribund policies of president Charles de Gaulle. Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle ( ( 22 November 1890 – 9 November 1970) was a French General and statesman who led the Free French

Many contemporary artists continue to be haunted by the horrors of the Second World War and the specter of the Holocaust. Christian Boltanski's harrowing installations of the lost and the anonymous are particularly powerful. Christian Boltanski (born September 6, 1944) is a French photographer sculptor self-proclaimed painter and installation artist

The Louvre Museum, Paris
The Louvre Museum, Paris

Art museums in France

Paris

Near Paris

Vocabulary

French words and expressions dealing with the arts:

Reference works

See also

This article is a general introduction to French literature For detailed information on French literature in specific historic periods see the separate historical articles in the The History of France has been divided into a series of separate historical articles navigable through the list to the right The Culture of France and of the French people has been shaped by its geography, by profound historical events, and by foreign and
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