#AP Art History: Your Ultimate Review Guide 🚀

Hey there, future art historian! Feeling the pre-exam jitters? Don't worry, this guide is designed to be your best friend tonight. We'll break down the key concepts, make connections, and get you feeling confident and ready to ace that exam. Let's do this!

#1. Introduction to Later European and American Art

#Key Movements (1750-1970)

These movements are the backbone of the exam. Knowing their characteristics and how they relate to each other is crucial.

• Romanticism (1750-1850): 💖 Emotion, imagination, and the sublime beauty of nature. Think dramatic landscapes and intense feelings.
• Realism (1848-1900): 🧐 Truthful, objective depictions of everyday life and the working class. No sugar-coating here!
• Impressionism (1860-1890): ☀️ Capturing fleeting moments of light and color in nature. Think blurry edges and vibrant hues.
• Post-Impressionism (1880-1910): 🎨 Building on Impressionism, but with more emphasis on structure, form, and personal expression. Think Van Gogh's swirls and Seurat's dots.
• Fauvism (1905-1910): 💥 Bold, non-naturalistic use of color. Think Matisse's vibrant, expressive palettes.
• Cubism (1907-1914): 📐 Breaking down objects into geometric shapes and reassembling them in abstract compositions. Think Picasso and Braque.
• Surrealism (1924-1940): 💭 Exploring the subconscious mind and the power of dreams. Think melting clocks and bizarre imagery.
• Abstract Expressionism (1940-1960): 🌀 Non-objective forms and the exploration of the artist's inner self. Think Pollock's drips and Rothko's color fields.
• Pop Art (1955-1970): 📺 Incorporating elements of popular culture, such as advertising and comic books. Think Warhol's soup cans and Lichtenstein's comic panels.

#Art in the Americas

• Hudson River School: 🏞️ Romantic and idealized depictions of the American landscape.
• Ashcan School: 🏙️ Focused on urban life and the working class in American cities.
• Abstract Expressionism: 🇺🇸 A uniquely American movement led by artists like Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and Willem de Kooning.

#2. Key Works and Case Studies

#Portrait of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, Miguel Cabrera (1750 CE) 🇲🇽

• Form: Oil on canvas, Enlightenment style.
• Content:
  • Portrait of a nun (Sor Juana).
  • Books symbolizing education.
  • St. Jerome's translation of the Bible.
  • Painting of the Virgin Mary.
  • Rosary in her left hand.
  • Red curtains indicating high status.
  • Direct eye contact with the viewer.
• Function: Conveys intellectual and religious status; feminist undertones.
• Context: Painted in Mexico City by Miguel Cabrera in 1750 CE.

#The Swing, Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1767 CE) 🇫🇷

• Form: Rococo style; oil on canvas.
• Content:
  • Love garden with sculptures.
  • Aristocratic woman on a swing.
  • Cupid whispering.
  • Expensive shoes.
• Function: Displays aristocracy, decadence, and the pleasures enjoyed by the elite.
• Context: Painted by Jean-Honoré Fragonard during the Enlightenment in 1767 CE.

#The Starry Night, Vincent van Gogh (1889 CE) 🇳🇱

• Form: Post-Impressionism; oil on canvas; color expression.
• Content:
  • Night scene with swirling stars.
  • Spiritual and pulsing atmosphere.
  • Church and cypress tree (symbolizing cemetery).
• Function: Shows that night has more color than day; expresses hope and a request for love.
• Context: Painted by Vincent van Gogh in a hospital in St. Remy in 1889. ### Still Life in Studio, Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre (1837 CE) 🇫🇷

• Form: Early photography; classical art with precise detail.
• Function: Elevates photography to the status of art.
• Content:
  • Long exposure.
  • Movement not recorded.
  • Reversed image.
  • Plaster casts of angels.
• Context: Created by Louis Jacques Maude Daguerre in 1837 CE.

#Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, Pablo Picasso (1907 CE) 🇪🇸

• Form: Proto-Cubism.
• Content:
  • Incorporation of works from various time periods (Kouros, African masks, Manet's works).
  • Five women directly staring at the viewer.
• Function: Introduces a new world of movement in art.
• Context: Painted by Pablo Picasso in 1907 in Barcelona.

#The Two Fridas (Las dos Fridas), Frida Kahlo (1939 CE) 🇲🇽

• Form: Surrealist; Ex-Voto tradition.
• Content:
  • Left Frida (Victorian European) and right Frida (Mexican).
  • Right Frida holds a portrait of Diego Rivera as a child.
  • Left Frida holds a hemostat.
  • Stormy sky.
  • Hearts twined together by veins.
• Function: Self-portrait exploring identity, heritage, and personal struggles (abortions and miscarriages).
• Context: Painted by Frida Kahlo in 1939 during her divorce with Diego Rivera.

#The Kiss, Gustav Klimt (1907-1908 CE) 🇦🇹

• Form: Modern abstract; little detail; symmetrical; oil and gold leaf on canvas.
• Content:
  • Two bodies becoming one.
  • Interlocked figures.
  • One thin line separating the two.
• Function: Depicts the theme of love and intimacy.
• Context: Painted by Gustav Klimt between 1907 and 1908. ### Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in the Alameda Park, Diego Rivera (1947-1948 CE) 🇲🇽

• Form: Fresco (50' long, 13' high); inspired by Surrealism.
• Content:
  • Big urban park in Mexico City.
  • Skeleton in the middle (Diego as a young boy).
  • Older portrait of Frida Kahlo.
  • Three periods of Mexican history (Conquest, Porfirio Diaz dictatorship, Revolution of 1910).
  • Historical government figures and revolutionaries.
• Function: Political propaganda, nationalism, historical narrative; decoration for a hotel.
• Context: Painted by Diego Rivera from 1947-1948; based on his memories of the park.

#3. Connections and Themes

• Enlightenment Ideals: Notice how works like Portrait of Sor Juana and The Swing reflect the intellectual and social values of the Enlightenment.
• Personal Expression: Compare how artists like Van Gogh and Kahlo use their art to express personal emotions and experiences.
• Cultural Identity: Consider how works like The Two Fridas and Dream of a Sunday Afternoon explore themes of cultural identity and heritage.
• Innovation and Change: Trace the evolution of art styles from Romanticism to Pop Art, noting how each movement builds upon or reacts against its predecessors.
• Social Commentary: Analyze how artists like Rivera use their work to comment on social and political issues.

#4. Final Exam Focus

#High-Priority Topics

Focus on these topics as they are frequently tested in the exam.

• Major Art Movements: Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Fauvism, Cubism, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art.
• Key Artists and Works: Be familiar with the artists and artworks discussed above, as well as other frequently tested pieces.
• Themes and Concepts: Understand how art reflects social, political, and cultural contexts.
• Artistic Techniques: Be able to identify and discuss different artistic techniques, such as brushwork, composition, and use of color.

#Common Question Types

• Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs): These test your knowledge of specific artworks, artists, and movements. Pay attention to details and practice identifying key characteristics.
• Short Answer Questions (SAQs): These require you to analyze and compare artworks based on specific prompts. Practice writing concise and well-supported responses.
• Free Response Questions (FRQs): These are in-depth essays that require you to synthesize information from multiple units and address complex themes. Practice outlining your essays and developing strong arguments.

#Last-Minute Tips

• Time Management: Allocate your time wisely. Don't spend too long on any one question. If you get stuck, move on and come back later.
• Read Carefully: Pay close attention to the wording of each question. Make sure you understand what is being asked before you start writing.
• Use Evidence: Support your answers with specific examples from the artworks and historical context.
• Stay Calm: Take deep breaths and remember that you've got this! You've prepared well, and you're ready to do your best.

#5. Practice Questions

Practice Question

#Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which art movement is characterized by its focus on capturing the fleeting effects of light and color? (A) Realism (B) Impressionism (C) Surrealism (D) Abstract Expressionism

2. Which artist is known for their use of bold, non-naturalistic colors? (A) Claude Monet (B) Vincent van Gogh (C) Henri Matisse (D) Pablo Picasso

3. Which artwork is an example of Proto-Cubism? (A) The Starry Night (B) The Two Fridas (C) Les Demoiselles d’Avignon (D) The Kiss

#Free Response Question

Prompt: Analyze how two different artworks from this study guide reflect the social and cultural values of their respective time periods. Be sure to discuss the form, content, function, and context of each artwork.

Scoring Breakdown:

• Thesis (1 point): A clear and defensible thesis statement that addresses the prompt.
• Artwork 1 Analysis (4 points):
  • Identification of the artwork and its artist (1 point).
  • Discussion of form, content, function, and context (3 points).
• Artwork 2 Analysis (4 points):
  • Identification of the artwork and its artist (1 point).
  • Discussion of form, content, function, and context (3 points).
• Comparison (2 points):
  • Analysis of how the two artworks reflect different social and cultural values (2 points).
• Synthesis (1 point):
  • Demonstrates an understanding of the broader historical context and its impact on art (1 point).

#Short Answer Question

1. Explain how The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh reflects the Post-Impressionist movement.
2. Compare and contrast the function of Portrait of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz and The Swing.

You've got this! Go get that 5! 💪