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Only True Art Nerds Can Pass This Art History Test With Flying Colors

Art History Quiz

Art gallery and glass pyramid, Paris, France

The Louvre is among the largest art museums in the world. You might have recognized it by its iconic glass and metal pyramid. Did you know the pyramid was designed by an architect named Ieoh Ming Pei (otherwise known as I.M. Pei)?

It's the Louvre!

Let's start with an easy question. What's this museum?

Madrid, Communidad de Madrid, Spain, Europe

This oil painting is _Guernica_. The painting depicts the civilian deaths and devastation caused by the Nazi bombing of Guernica, a village in Spain.

The answer is Pablo Picasso.

Which artist created this painting?

Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, La Gioconda. Antique illustration.

This technique allows painters to gradually shade colors together, which creates softer outlines.

The answer is sfumato!

What technique did Leonardo da Vinci use to create the Mona Lisa's soft facial expression and the hazy background?

Humans and neanderthals painted many things: hand stencils, animals, depictions of ceremonies or hunts, etc. The oldest cave painting is in Cáceres, Spain in the Maltravieso cave.

The oldest cave painting is over 64,000 years old!

Approximately how old is the world's oldest cave painting?

If you put a canvas under an x-ray, you might find traces of a previous drawing or painting hiding underneath. Canvases can be expensive, so artists may reuse their supplies by painting over an old art piece to create something new. These traces of old paintings can tell us a lot about how an artist has changed their style, tools, or techniques over their career.

The answer is pentimento!

What is it called when there are traces of when an artist may have repurposed a canvas by adapting or painting over an existing image?

Pointillism involves using tiny dots to create a vibrant, luminous image.

The answer is Georges Seurat's _A Sunday on La Grande Jatte_

Which of these paintings is an example of pointillism?

An old, sepia-tone photograph of a young man who is looking into the camera.

Self-portraits are an ancient artform, but _photographed_ selfies are a relatively recent invention. In 1839, Robert Cornelius set up a camera and took a picture of himself. This photograph is known as the first selfie.

The photo is credited as the first 'selfie'!

Why did this photograph of Robert Cornelius become famous?

However, Pollock was inspired by Orozco, Rivera, and Siqueiros. In 1936, Pollock attended an art workshop that Siqueriros hosted in New York. At the workshop, Pollock learned Mexican muralist techniques like pouring and dripping paint. These techniques became an important part of American modern art.

The answer is Jackson Pollock!

Who was not a leading figure in the post-revolution Mexican Muralism movement?

Paris, France - March 18, 2023:  Sculpture of the Japanese artist Y in front of Louis Vuitton Headquarters repainting the facade of the building with colored dots in Paris, France

Yayori Kusama is a Japanese artist who has made many large-scale installations and art pieces. While Kusama uses a variety of mediums, her works are often recognizable by their polka dot patterns.

The answer is Yayoi Kusama!

Which artist is nicknamed the "Queen of the Polka Dot"?

Many communities around the world decorate eggs. However, the iconic Fabergé eggs are unique. They were created for the Russian Imperial Family. These intricate eggs were made by the jewelers at the House of Fabergé in Saint Petersburg.

The answer is Russia!

Where were the famous, jewel-studded Fabergé eggs originally made?

Where were the famous, jewel-studded Fabergé eggs made?

Nonetheless, the Harlem Renaissance left a lasting influence on many different arts including but not limited to poetry, jazz, cubism, dance, and more.

The Harlem Renaissance occurred during the 1920s-1930s.

And finally, during the Harlem Renaissance, artists combined traditional African art with new styles. When was the Harlem Renaissance?

Harlem Renaissance question

Art is subjective, but there are still some awesome facts that you can learn. Why don't you study over the questions you missed and take this quiz again?

Purple and Orange Colored Strings Tangled Scribble on Brown Background Directly Above View.

Your Art Knowledge is a Little Too Abstract

Congratulations for passing this Art 101 quiz! You appreciate art and museums, and you have most of the art history basics down. Now, you're ready to take Art 102!

United Kingdom, London, A man in suit wearing bowler hat standing in art gallery that is out of focus to alter identification, composite image, sept 15/2016

Congratulations, you passed!

Wow, you've left a Monet-size impression on us! You might be a docent, a curator, an artist, or just a big appreciator of the arts. Either way, you left your mark by showcasing your art knowledge.

Man watching paintings in modern art gallery

You've Got Docent-Level Knowledge!

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Only True Art Nerds Can Pass This Art History Test With Flying Colors

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