Use Of Animals In Art
For many artists over the ages, animals have served as a source of inspiration. As a result, use of animals in art were the first subjects ever painted and appear in art in a variety of ways.
Depicting day-to-day rural life, myths, and exciting tales, animals have always been an important part of art in all cultures.
The popularity of animal artwork has waned and dipped over the centuries, but never disappeared completely, and has always re-emerged.
Animal art is definitely here to stay.
Recommended reading: Animal Art By Belinda Marshall
History Of Animals In Art
Animals have always been a popular topic for artists to draw and paint throughout history.
Images of the animals that Stone Age men hunted were carved and painted in their caves.
Tribal painters from all over the world merged animal and human elements to represent man’s relationship with his natural surroundings.
Artists used mythical beasts to embellish medieval manuscripts, while everyday creatures often took on hidden symbolic meanings.
Hunting scenes painted by 17th-century artists depicted dramatic life-and-death battles between man and beast.
The natural beauty and magnificent power of animals in their natural settings were celebrated by 18th-century artists.
Victorian artists made emotive paintings of their household pets and cattle throughout the nineteenth century.
And animals are still depicted in 20th and 21st-century art everywhere.
Animal Symbolism In Art
Since humans first began sketching on cave walls, the animal world has been a source of infinite curiosity to man.
Beasts were not only sustenance for prehistoric painters, but also sacred, spiritual beings.
Animals have been used as symbols, and their portrayal in the arts reveals a lot about our times and the relationship between humans and animals.
Paintings tell their stories, from simple cave paintings to decorative art and symbolic portrayals that are relevant today.
What Attributes Do Animals Represent
In many cultures throughout the world, animals represent or embody attributes that relate to our lives, feelings, and interactions.
These attributes encompass:
- respect
- bravery
- love
- kindness
- strength
- wisdom
- hope
Those mentioned here are but a few. There seems to be an endless list.
The Symbolism Associated With Animals
Here are just a few examples of what attributes animals are associated with. You will notice that the attributes associated with many animals reflect their size, habits, and “personality traits”.
Here are a few examples that demonstrate this statement.
- The bear represents strength, courage, and tenacity.
2. Tigers are a symbol of energy, power, and strength.
3. Panthers are associated with a spiritual mind. They also symbolise strength, loyalty, adventure, triumph, and companionship.
4. A symbol of happiness in many cultures around the world is the bluebird.
5. The owl is commonly associated with wisdom.
And the list is long.
Styles Of Animal Art
Like all genres of drawing and painting, the style of animals depicted in art is hugely varied.
From wild animals to domesticated farm animals and pets, nothing is taboo.
Styles encompass abstract through to realism and everything contemporary in-between. Whatever you like, there is someone out there creating art in your preferred medium or type.
Mediums In Art
You will find animals depicted in oil paint, pastels, pencils, crayons, watercolours, and mixed media.
Anything an artist can use to create art will be used. This is the joy of art.
Other art forms, like mosaics, carvings, and statues all encompass animal representations.
In Conclusion
Animals are and always have been closely linked to human lives, and art from all over the world can attest to that.
Whether it is capturing wild animals in their natural habitat, depicting farm animals doing their work for us, or creating a memory of our much-loved pets, animals in any art form are here to stay.
