On Barbarism

As described by Michaud, there is a belief that art history began through the “barbaric” invasion of Rome by Germanic peoples. This is believed through the destruction of many Greek and Roman artifacts and the end of the largest empire of that time period. The destruction of Rome was marked as a tragedy for historians and inspired a rebirth in classical styles as well as a desire to preserve artifact history. This view of reaffirming and reclaiming the “greatness” of Greco-Roman art attributes a negative view on all other forms of art outside this framework.

During the Renaissance, scholars and artists began to reflect on the sac of Rome and its effect on aesthetics. When looking back at the styles and aesthetics of art and architecture during the Medieval period, the term “gothic” began to be used as a negative phrase to characterize the eclectic, iconographic quality of those works. The term was evocative of the Visigoths who invaded Rome and the barbaric nature that goes with that Greco-Roman romanticization. In both the insinuation that Medieval art and architecture is brutish as well as the neologistic development of “gothic” to be a negatively connoted adjective, the Renaissance was able to create a long-lasting bias in favor of Classical aestheticism.

This barbarism in art history has provided a lasting influence as to what makes quality art and what is connoted as primitive. As a negative effect, art historical discourse has taken a largely white washed and Euro-centric tone with a consequential oppression of non-christian and non-European art. Where art historical discourse has and needs to focus on is addressing that bias that was developed in the Renaissance and provide a more well-rounded representation on global art history. Conversations that span across varying art historical approaches are able to broaden the outlook on how art can be perceived and reveal a far larger picture as to what an artistic artifact can communicate in historical narrative.

 

 

Readings Referenced:

Michaud, Éric. “The Barbarian Invasions,” 2019. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/12508.001.0001.

 

Featured Image:

Rose Window Detail of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris taken by Patrick Kovarik