Introduction
One of the famous cultural heritages of the Aztecs is the great pyramid of Cholula. The Tlachihualtépetl pyramid, which means “handmade hill” in Nahuatl, is the largest pyramid structure in the world, with a volume of 4,500,000 m3 (Kleiner, 2019). It is located in the archaeological zone of Cholula, Puebla. Its peculiarity is that it is hidden under the mountain on which the temple was built (Kleiner, 2019). Consequently, the age of the pyramid in Cholula is more than 12 thousand years. This is indicated by the deviation in the orientation of the pyramid’s sides from the directions to the cardinal directions. These visual characteristics are typical of the time and place the object was created. The function and purpose of the pyramid characterize civilization as hardworking and religious.
Discussion
Machu Picchu is a world-famous ancient Inca city and a monument of their culture, which is located on the territory of Peru in the mountains of South America. The city was built between 1450-1470 AD, during the reign of Pachacutec (Kleiner, 2019). Cascading stone terraces were made to level the hillsides – typical of when the object was created. The locals planned everything so the city could exist independently from the rest of the world. A person could spend his whole life in this place without leaving his hometown, moreover, there is also a marvelous Temple of the Sun. Therefore, it can be assumed that the ancient civilization did not like migrations and was religious.
Located on the territory of the American state of Illinois, the Cahokia mounds are all that remains of the Indian civilization that existed here long before the arrival of Europeans. In the center of the complex is the famous four-tiered Monk’s mound, whose dimensions are truly superb – 28 meters in height and 290 meters in length. Such dimensions are typical for the time and place at which the object was created (Kleiner, 2021). Some archaeological finds indicate that the Indians from the banks of the Mississippi were excellent artists, sculptors, and architects. The builders of the mounds are still the same Indians who inhabited North America during the heyday of this culture, that is, in the period from the beginning of the III millennium BC to the XVI century AD.
The influence of the Enlightenment should be noted: philosophers preached rationalism, called for reliance on reason, sought to know the world, study the laws of nature. Neoclassicism gives a powerful impetus to the development of historical and portrait genres. Neoclassical masters, like their predecessors, often turn to the subjects of ancient history and mythology (Götz, 2021). For example, is the painting by Jacques-Louis David, “The Death of Socrates”. The picture shows the severity of the lines, the absence of strokes, and the illustration of ancient history. The philosophy of neoclassicism is reflected in the very theme of the painting – antiquity and the desire for rationalization.
Romanticism is a trend that replaced cold and ideal neoclassicism in the XIX century. The painters elevated emotions, feelings, and individuality. The emergence of this trend can be called a reaction to scientific and technological progress (Götz, 2021). People began to move away from nature more and put the material world first, not the spiritual one. For example, Ivan Aivazovsky’s painting “The Tempest”. The picture illustrates a dynamic composition, almost without a strict geometric shape. The painting reflects the philosophy of Romanticism in that it primarily appeals to feelings and experiences.
Conclusion
Realism emerged in art in the second half of the XIX century. This is a style of art that reproduces people’s lives as they are, without embellishment (Kleiner, 2021). The desire of creative people to rethink the reality in which they live affected all spheres of society that existed at that time. The paintings painted on typical topics were of the greatest interest. For example, Tom Roberts’ painting “Sheep Shearing” – the picture shows everyday life somewhere on a farm without any interruptions. The philosophy of realism is reflected in the fact that an ordinary working day becomes a theme for the painting.
References
Götz, E. (2021). Neoclassical realist theories, intervening variables, and paradigmatic boundaries. Foreign Policy Analysis, 17(2), oraa026.
Kleiner, F. P. (2019). Gardner’s art through the ages: A global history (16th ed.). Cengage. ISBN: 9781337630702. South University online library.
Kleiner, F. P. (2021). Gardner’s art through the ages: The western perspective, volume II (16th ed.). Cengage.