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Arts and society - Art, science and global exchange

4 important questions on Arts and society - Art, science and global exchange

What is a distinctive trait of Northern European art?

A distinctive trait of Dutch, Flemish and Northern European art was the detailed, almost 'photographic' representation of reality (often in combination with symbolic messages).

What did the faithful depiction of still lifes lead to?

The faithful depiction of flowers, plants and insects, so commonly found in still lifes, was soon put to the service of scientific discovery.
Scholars investigating the flora and fauna of Europe, America, Africa and Asia relied on the skills of artists to produce ever more differentiated herbals and zoological treatises.
Some painters embarked on long voyages overseas to draw animals and plants from life and in their natural environment, others worked from imported specimens.

What did printing foster?

Printing fostered new forms of collaboration between the sciences and the arts.

What opportunity did Jesuit missionaries grasp?

Later on, Jesuit missionaries in Asia grasped the potential of images to break linguistic barriers, supporting their religious endeavours by importing engravings of European art as well as illustrated treatises on art and architecture.
This resulted in a hybrid visual culture, in which Indian or Japanese artists adapted European elements and Christian symbols to their own traditions.

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Early Modern History

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