Age of Enlightenment

Definition

The Age of Enlightenment was an intellectual and cultural movement that emerged in the late 17th to the 18th century, emphasizing reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority. This period fostered advancements in science, philosophy, and the arts, laying the groundwork for modern democratic thought and influencing various artistic movements, including Neoclassicism as a response to the emotional intensity of Baroque art.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Age of Enlightenment is marked by significant advancements in science and philosophy, with figures like Isaac Newton and Voltaire challenging existing beliefs.
2. This period promoted the idea of progress, suggesting that society could improve through reason and education, leading to movements advocating for democracy and civil rights.
3. The Enlightenment's influence extended to art, inspiring a shift towards Neoclassicism that sought to emulate classical ideals of simplicity, order, and harmony, contrasting with Baroque extravagance.
4. Central to Enlightenment thought was the belief in the power of human reason to understand and shape the world, leading to skepticism towards superstition and blind faith.
5. The ideals of the Enlightenment laid the foundation for significant political revolutions, including the American Revolution and the French Revolution, which emphasized liberty, equality, and fraternity.

Review Questions

• How did the ideas of the Age of Enlightenment influence the shift from Baroque to Neoclassical art?
  • The Age of Enlightenment fostered a belief in reason, order, and clarity, which directly influenced the transition from the dramatic and emotional style of Baroque art to the more restrained and classical approach of Neoclassicism. Artists sought to reflect Enlightenment values by drawing inspiration from ancient Greece and Rome, focusing on idealized forms and balanced compositions. This shift mirrored a broader societal move towards rational thought and a questioning of authority that characterized the Enlightenment era.
• In what ways did Enlightenment thinkers challenge existing artistic conventions of the Baroque period?
  • Enlightenment thinkers criticized the emotional excesses and ornate styles characteristic of Baroque art, arguing for a return to classical ideals rooted in reason and symmetry. They promoted values such as clarity, balance, and simplicity, which artists embraced in their work. This challenge led to a re-evaluation of artistic practices, encouraging creators to prioritize intellectual content over emotional appeal and ultimately paving the way for Neoclassical art as a more restrained yet intellectually engaged movement.
• Evaluate how the principles of the Age of Enlightenment can be seen in Neoclassical art compared to Baroque art.
  • The principles of the Age of Enlightenment are evident in Neoclassical art through its emphasis on reasoned composition, clarity, and moral themes derived from classical antiquity. Unlike Baroque art's focus on drama and emotion, Neoclassicism highlights rationality and virtue, portraying historical or mythological subjects with an emphasis on idealized beauty. This reflection of Enlightenment ideals demonstrates how artists responded to societal changes by adopting styles that conveyed messages aligned with reasoned thought and civic virtue, contrasting sharply with Baroque's elaborate emotionality.

Related terms

Rationalism: A philosophical approach that emphasizes reason as the primary source of knowledge, often associated with thinkers like René Descartes.

Empiricism: The theory that all knowledge is derived from sensory experience, championed by philosophers such as John Locke and David Hume.

Humanism: A cultural and intellectual movement that focused on human potential and achievements, often reviving classical antiquity's ideas and values.