3.2 Interactions Within and Across Cultures in Early European and Colonial American Art

The movement of information and ideas in an inherent part of society. As you read this guide, we are hopefully providing you with new information and influencing your perspective. If you take this knowledge and have discussions with your friends, you would be influencing their perspective. Thus, we have both participated in a process that can affect views on Art History and the way we approach the class and its content. The same can be said with art. As people interact with each other, they exchange artistic traditions, influencing each others' cultural styles. This is why you might see the same techniques being used across different regions. 

Interactions within Europe

To briefly discuss Europe, you should know that the various kingdoms and empires in this time period lead to a melting pot of cultures that interacted with each other. The empires also facilitated the growth of trade networks, which were particularly important in the spread of ideas and artwork. Most cultural and artistic exchanges were facilitated through trade. They were also facilitated through conquest and war. For instance, during the Crusades, a series of religious wars fought between Christians and Muslims from the 11th to the 13th century, European soldiers became exposed to Islamic artistic traditions. This can be seen in Gothic and Romanesque art, that featured geometric ornamentation similar to the Islamic arabesque style. So the primary theme within Europe, is how traditions were exchanged in Europe (primarily through trade and conquest), which then influenced the art. 

The Spanish Conquest of the Americas

The Spanish conquest began with Christopher Columbus' voyage to the Caribbean in 1492. Spanish conquerors known as conquistadors introduced the native people of the Americas to their language, culture, religion, and most relevant, their artistic style. This led to a blending of Native and Spanish techniques and motifs, which is a process known as syncretism. The blending of these motifs created, "colonial art" which was a fusion of European and indigenous styles. Nevertheless, the Spanish Conquest had lasting effects on the artistic world. It began the Age of Exploration, where European nations began to explore the new world, and it led to the establishment of global trade networks. European ideas, forms, materials, and practices began to spread worldwide, leading to the the emergence of new forms of art and culture.