Essay History of Propaganda in Art - 861 Words

Throughout history, the purpose of art is dedicated to anything from decorative embellishments to religious tributes. However, art was also used by rulers and other powerful figures for propagandistic reasons as well. This can be seen through a survey of art pieces ranging from the Hellenistic period to the Ottonian period. At the beginning of the Hellenistic period Alexander the Great had just passed away, leaving his vast empire fragmented amongst many individual leaders. Many of the Greeks left the Balkan Peninsula to seek commission abroad, thus forsaking their identity and ties to the old Greek city states. The result was a greater focus on the individual, a psychological sense of isolation, as well as a mixture of foreign and†¦show more content†¦The body of the chieftain is particularly exaggerated creating a forceful rippling in the musculature, which is a testament to the Hellenistic Baroque achievement of energetic movement and intense psychological involvement. T he Greeks were largely impressed with the courage and fighting abilities of the Gauls, which had reminded them of their defeat of the Persians. Ultimately, the purpose of glorifying their enemy was to convey the message that the defeat of such an impressive enemy made the Greeks’ victory and power even greater. During the Roman Imperial era, under the rule of Augustus, the idea that the emperor is the principate, or the foremost citizen of the state chosen by the gods to rule, is adopted. This idea is exemplified in the sculpture of Augustus of Prima Porta. Here, Augustus is portrayed in a classicizing manner and a typical Greek contrapposto stance which serves to liken the reign of Augustus to that of the golden age of Classical Athens. This style which had been used to portray great heroes during the Greek Classical era also serves to liken Augustus to the Greek heroes who were idealistically athletic and strong (desirable qualities in a leader). In addition the figures on his armor are images of Greco-Roman gods, who are giving their approval of Augustus’s recent territorial acquirements. Furthermore,Show MoreRelatedWorld War I Was Not Inevitable1681 Words   |  7 Pages such as its art. Not only were new movements created, but also new styles of existing forms of art resulted from the war. Because of the different ways that art developed both on and off of the battlefield during the Great War, WWI is one of the most influential wars on the development of art in the twentieth century. Art in World War I was observed in many forms, from photography to art movements on the home fronts of many countries. What many people did not realize is that art was also usedRead MoreRoman Art : A Picture Book By Christine Alexander Essay1497 Words   |  6 PagesThe Roman Republic is famous for many events, people, and histories. 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