THREE-DIMENSIONAL ART: HISTORY, CHARACTERISTICS AND WORKS - ART - 2024

The three - dimensional art is characterized by the creation of works with three dimensions: height, width and length. Like two-dimensional art, three-dimensional creation is as old as man himself. In Prehistory, man modeled art objects for magical-religious purposes, and as tools for work and defense.

The most representative expressions are mainly sculpture and architecture, but there are also representatives in painting thanks to perspective and the handling of shadows through light. In sculpture, three-dimensional art comes in the form of carvings (stone or wood), modeling (clay, wax), casting, and welding.

Michelangelo's Moses

It is also appreciated in the production of abstract or figurative figures, such as gravure, relief or the round. In architecture, the first stone monuments built by primitive societies are the most distant antecedents of three-dimensional art.

These monuments were built for shelter and religious worship purposes, later as symbols of development, power and, of course, beauty.

History

Since prehistoric times, man has built stone monuments to celebrate their religious rites, as was the case with Stonehenge in England. He also carved utensils and tools for everyday use to hunt and defend himself.

Likewise, the human being used architecture to build houses where he could protect himself from the cold and animals.

The first objects of prehistoric art were created in the Lower Paleolithic. The man made arrows (biface) and flint knives using other stones; with these tools he could defend himself. These instruments also allowed him to hunt, butcher and cut the meat of animals.

Sculpture and architecture

Sculpture, as the most representative three-dimensional art since prehistoric times, had as its fundamental inspiration the human figure. In man arose the desire to create pieces of art that represented and perpetuated the physiognomy and beauty of their fellow men over time.

With the development of civilization, human, female and male figures were used more, which were sometimes mixed with animals. Through these gods such as those of Mesopotamia or kings were represented, as was the case with the Egyptians.

Later, with the mastery of architectural techniques, geometry and engineering, it was possible to build the first emblematic works; for example, the megaliths built mainly in the Neolithic period.

Later the monumental works representative of three-dimensional art were created, such as the Egyptian pyramids together with Mesopotamian (Sumerian), Assyrian, Babylonian, Etruscan and Minoan architecture. Mycenaean, Aegean and Persian architectures also developed.

In classical antiquity, Greek architecture and sculpture marked a historical landmark in the arts for their perfection and beauty.

Then Roman art developed, until the Middle Ages, when there was a revolution in three-dimensional art. Until then, two-dimensional painting had been the only known form of plastic art.

Painting

With the discovery of perspective by the Italian artists Duccio and Giotto (13th and 14th centuries), art entered its three-dimensional stage.

Painting acquired a new dimension: depth, through the use of light and shading. This technique was perfected during the Renaissance and continues to this day.

characteristics

- Three-dimensional works of art have three dimensions: height, width and depth, whose shapes can be geometric and organic.

- They can be appreciated from any angle or perspective, unlike two-dimensional works of art, which can only be viewed from the front.

- The volume of the works is real, as is the case with sculpture and architecture. Painting is an exception, since volume and depth are simulated through shadows and lights.

- Three-dimensional art techniques are applied to any surface or material that is used to sculpt or build a structure. With the development of the film industry it is now possible to apply them also in cinema images: in 3D films and in digital images.

- In the case of sculpture as three-dimensional art, one of its main themes has been the representation of the human figure.

- The materials used to create the works are very varied in their texture and nature: stone, metals, wax, clay, paints, etc.

- The plastic language of three-dimensional art created through sculpture or architecture is very similar to each other. It differs from other three-dimensional forms of art such as painting in its three-dimensional or two-dimensional expression.

- The three-dimensional works mostly lack background. Instead they have surroundings and rest on their own surface.

Outstanding works

Here are some very significant and outstanding works of three-dimensional art at different times in art history:

Stonehenge

This megalithic monument of the Crómlech type was erected at the end of the Neolithic period, around 5,000 years ago. It is situated a short distance from Amesbury, in Wiltshire, England.

The reasons for its construction and subsequent abandonment are not yet known for sure, but it is believed it was for ritual reasons.

Egyptian pyramids

Pyramids of Giza: Cheops, Khafre and Menkaure

Cheops, Khafre and Menkaure are the most important architectural works of Egyptian three-dimensional art. They are built on the Giza plateau, outside of Cairo. They were built around 2500 BC. C., in a stage before the classical pyramids, during dynasty IV.

The Parthenon

It is one of the most important Greek temples belonging to the Doric order, which was built on the acropolis of Athens between 447 BC. C. and 432 a. C.

David by Michelangelo

It is a white marble sculpture that measures 5.17 meters high and weighs 5572 kilograms. It was sculpted by the Italian painter and sculptor Miguel Ángel Buonarroti between 1501 and 1504. It is exhibited in the Gallery of the Academy of Florence.

Reclining figure of Henry Moore

This work, together with North Wind (1928) and Virgin with the Child (1949), is one of the most important of the English sculptor Henry Moore (1898-1989).

Moore's work was influenced by various styles of art, from pre-Columbian to surreal. In her work, abstract and figurative works stand out, alternating emptiness with flat, concave and convex geometric shapes.

References

1. Three-Dimensional Art: Form, Volume, Mass, and Texture. Retrieved June 4, 2018 from norton.com
2. Sculpture. Consulted of encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com
3. Three-dimensional painting. Consulted of Pintura-para.com
4. Characteristics of three-dimensional creation. academia.edu
5. Displaying Three-Dimensional Art: Methods & Techniques. Consulted from study.com
6. Sculpture: three-dimensional art. Consulted of icarito.cl
7. Three-dimensional. Consulted of portaldearte.cl
8. History of sculpture. Consulted of es.wikipedia.org