Classicism is an aesthetic and artistic trend in European art of the 17-19 centuries. This period revealed to the world many talented authors who made a significant contribution to the development of art: literature, painting, sculpture, music and architecture. The first tendencies of classicism appeared in France, when people renewed their interest in ancient times and the ideals of that time.
Classicism
The main features of this direction originate in antiquity. The thinking of the authors was artistically directed and tended to a clear, holistic expression, as well as the simplicity of visual means, poise and logical statements. Therefore, we can say that the thinking of a person in the era of classicism is rationally idealized.
If we say that classicism is related to antiquity, it is important to note that their similarity was in a form that, however, might not meet the standards that were accepted in the ancient world. Classic art is distinguished from others in the first place by respect for old values and the ability to display them even when they are irrelevant.
A characteristic feature of classicism is the ontological understanding of beauty. Here it is timeless, and therefore eternal, and also much attention is paid to the laws of harmony.
The psychology of classicism is explained by the fact that in complex historical periods, which are transitional and bear a lot of new things, a person seeks to turn to that which is immutable: for example, to the past. In this, he finds support: the ancient Greeks are an example of rationalism in thought, they gave humanity complete ideas about space and time, and many other phenomena in life, and they did this in a simple and accessible form. Complex and ornate thoughts and the same design do not mean the clarity and concreteness that humanity required in a rapidly changing world. Therefore, antiquity played an important role in the formation of classicism.
The ideas of classicism are romantic, so many are of the opinion that they are inseparable. And yet there are significant differences in them: romanticism is more divorced from reality in its ideals and ways of displaying them than classicism.
What is classicism? V. Tatarkevich tried to explain this with the help of several principles, which, in turn, were initially stated by theorist L. B. Alberti:
- Beauty is an objective property of real objects.
- Beauty is order, the right composition, which is judged by the mind.
- Since art uses science, it means that it must have a rational discipline.
- The image created in the direction of classicism can be real, but depicted according to the model of antiquity.
What is classicism in painting
The main feature of this trend in artistic creativity is manifested in the artist’s attitude to the work: his feelings, expressed with the help of painting, are subordinated to aesthetic norms and logic.
Among the prominent representatives can be identified the work of N. Prussen, who painted paintings with mythological themes. Particular attention is drawn to their precise geometric composition and thoughtful combination of colors. K. Lorren is also the same: although the theme of his paintings differs from the works of N. Prussen (landscapes of the city's environs), but the execution is also sustained: he harmonized them with the help of the light of the setting sun.
What is classicism in sculpture and architecture
Since classical works served as a model in classicism, the authors encountered a contradiction when sculpting: in ancient Greece, the models were depicted naked, but now it was immoral. Art workers got out of the situation in a tricky way: they portrayed real people in the image of ancient gods. During the reign of Napoleon, sculptors began to craft models on which togas are worn.
Classicism in Russia arose much later, but, nevertheless, this did not prevent the talented authors who worked according to his ideas from appearing in this country: Boris Orlovsky, Fedot Shubin, Ivan Martos, Mikhail Kozlovsky.
The architecture also sought to recreate the forms inherent in antiquity. Simplicity, rigor, monumentality and logical clarity are the main features.
What is classicism in literature
The main achievement of classicism is that the literary genres were divided into hierarchical groups: among them were distinguished high (epic, tragedy, ode) and low (fable, comedy and satire).
In the literature, a strict requirement was put forward for observing genre features in the work.