Art History Flashcards

Front

What looks artificial about Caravaggio’s “Judith” painting?

Back

The composition appears staged; Judith looks detached rather than horrified, and her clothing remains immaculate. The idealized portrayal contrasts with the gruesome act, making the violence feel theatrical rather than natural.

Front

What seems more convincing about Gentileschi’s “Judith” painting?

Back

Gentileschi’s version shows Judith and her maid physically straining as they cut Holofernes’s neck. The women’s expressions of determination and the realistic struggle make her scene visceral and believable, reflecting Gentileschi’s personal strength as a successful female painter.

Front

What does Fragonard’s “Happy Accidents of the Swing” represent?

Back

It represents the playful, indulgent, and carefree attitude of the French aristocracy just before the Revolution.

Front

What does David’s “Oath of the Horatii” symbolize?

Back

It symbolizes duty, sacrifice, and patriotism, inspiring revolutionary ideals in France. The severe composition contrasts sharply with Rococo frivolity.

Front

What caused Goya to change his subject matter?

Back

Goya suffered from an illness that left him deaf, and witnessing Spain’s violence under Napoleon deeply affected him. His later works grew darker and more psychological, revealing humanity’s cruelty and despair.

Front

How did the advent of the camera affect Impressionists?

Back

Photography freed artists from needing to copy reality precisely, allowing Impressionists to focus on light, color, and atmosphere, painting fleeting moments rather than photographic precision.

Front

What are characteristics of Impressionism?

Back

Impressionist artists painted with loose brushwork and bright colors to capture the effects of natural light and movement, often working outdoors to observe sunlight shifts during the day.

Front

What did Monet’s “Rouen Cathedral” series demonstrate?

Back

It demonstrated how light and weather transformed the cathedral’s appearance, proving that color—not line—creates mood and form, illustrating the Impressionist belief in ever-changing perception.

Front

How did Monet’s “Impression, Sunrise” name the Impressionist movement?

Back

A critic mocked the painting as a mere “impression,” but the label stuck, defining the revolutionary art style.

Front

What technique did Seurat develop?

Back

Seurat developed Pointillism, using tiny dots of pure color placed side by side, which the eye blends into new hues from a distance.