-
Period: 30,000 BCE to 10,000 BCE
Altamira and Lascaux Cave Drawings
The Altamira and Lascaux Cave Drawings are the earliest known drawings in human history, dating back to 30,000-10,000 B.C.E. -
Period: 3000 BCE to 1 CE
Ancient Greek and Egyptian Artwork
Ancient Greek and Egyptian drawings provide us with evidence of early artistic methods, such as hieroglyphics and ink on papyrus, as well as insights into Greek and Egyptian culture. -
Period: 400 to 1400
Medieval Artwork
European artwork in medieval times was used to represent religious messages. Much of the drawing was done as preparation for painting, and model books were used to reduce the necessity for live models. -
Period: 1300 to
Charcoal Techniques
Renaissance artists such as Michelangelo and da Vinci began using charcoal for drawing, which allowed for greater variety in effects and textures. -
Period: 1300 to
Commercialization of Art
The renaissance led to a greater commercial value of artwork with it becoming a popular item among the wealthy. Artists would even use monograms to advertise their work. -
Period: to
Sketchbooks
The invention of sketchbooks allowed artists to directly draw scenes of nature rather than having to rely on memory. -
Period: to
Open Compositions
Used by Peter Paul Rubens, the technique created art work which appeared to burst through the canvas. -
Period: to
Expressionism, Fauvism, and Avant-Garde Artwork
Developed in the 18th and 19th centuries, these styles pushed further away from tradition and into more unorthodox ideas, using drawing to express emotion and abstract concepts. -
Period: to
Impressionism
Impressionism, as with other innovative styles of the 18th and 19th century, stepped away from traditional scenes usually drawn. This style was concerned with depicting the moment with lighting and color. -
Period: to
Cubism
Cubism relied on the use of geometric shapes to convey ideas of artwork to the viewers.