Introduction:
Prepare for success on the Advance Placement (AP) Art History exam by embarking on a comprehensive review of the key concepts, styles, and artworks that define art history. This in-depth guide will equip you with the knowledge and analytical skills necessary to excel on the exam.
Understanding the Exam Format
The AP Art History exam consists of three sections:
- Section I: Multiple Choice (60%): 80 multiple-choice questions covering art history from prehistoric to contemporary periods.
- Section II: Short Answer (20%): 4 short-answer questions requiring responses of 100-120 words, evaluating your understanding of specific artworks and artistic concepts.
- Section III: Essay (20%): 1 essay question requiring a structured response of 450-500 words, analyzing and interpreting a pair of works of art.
Key Concepts and Periods
Thoroughly review the following key concepts and periods to ensure a strong foundation for the exam:
- Artistic Techniques: Painting, sculpture, architecture, drawing, printmaking
- Artistic Styles: Realism, Impressionism, Cubism, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism
- Art History Periods: Prehistory, Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Realism, Modernism, Contemporary Art
Essential Artworks
Familiarize yourself with the following iconic artworks that often appear on the exam:
- Prehistory: Lascaux Caves
- Ancient Egypt: Pyramids of Giza, Great Sphinx of Giza
- Greece: Parthenon, Winged Victory of Samothrace
- Rome: Colosseum, Pantheon
- Middle Ages: Bayeux Tapestry, Notre Dame Cathedral
- Renaissance: Mona Lisa, David, Sistine Chapel Ceiling
- Baroque: St. Peter’s Basilica, Bernini’s Ecstasy of St. Teresa
- Neoclassicism: Jacques-Louis David’s Oath of the Horatii, Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello
- Romanticism: Romantic Landscapes (e.g., Turner), Théodore Géricault’s Raft of the Medusa
- Realism: Gustave Courbet’s The Stone Breakers, Édouard Manet’s Olympia
- Modernism: Pablo Picasso’s Guernica, Jackson Pollock’s Number 31
- Contemporary Art: Ai Weiwei’s Bird’s Nest (Beijing National Stadium), Banksy’s Girl with Balloon
Strategies for Success
Master Chronological Sequence: Understand the chronological development of art history, identifying key periods and their characteristics.
Develop Visual Literacy: Study artworks carefully, analyzing their compositional elements, style, and symbolism.
Write Effectively: Practice writing clear and concise responses that demonstrate your understanding of art history concepts and artworks.
Manage Time Wisely: Allocate time effectively during the exam to complete all sections thoroughly.
Avoid Common Mistakes: Overlook common pitfalls such as neglecting to analyze artistic techniques, confusing artwork styles, or omitting significant contextual information.
Useful Tables
Table 1: Periods of Art History
| Period | Key Characteristics | Notable Artists |
|---|---|---|
| Prehistory | Cave paintings, rock carvings | Lascaux Cave artists |
| Ancient Egypt | Monumental architecture, hieroglyphics | Imhotep, Nefertari |
| Greece | Classical sculpture, architecture | Phidias, Praxiteles |
| Rome | Engineering feats, realistic sculpture | Vitruvius, Hadrian |
| Middle Ages | Gothic architecture, illuminated manuscripts | Giotto, Hildegard of Bingen |
| Renaissance | Humanism, naturalism | Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo |
| Baroque | Excess, grandeur | Bernini, Caravaggio |
| Neoclassicism | Revival of classical style | Jacques-Louis David, Thomas Jefferson |
| Romanticism | Emotion, individualism | Eugène Delacroix, Caspar David Friedrich |
| Realism | Objective depiction of reality | Gustave Courbet, Édouard Manet |
| Modernism | Experimentalism, abstraction | Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock |
| Contemporary Art | Focus on social, political, and cultural themes | Ai Weiwei, Banksy |
Table 2: Essential Artworks
| Artwork | Artist | Period | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lascaux Caves | Paleolithic | Prehistory | Earliest known cave paintings |
| Pyramids of Giza | Imhotep | Ancient Egypt | Iconic burial complexes |
| Parthenon | Phidias | Greece | Classical architectural masterpiece |
| Colosseum | Unknown | Rome | Massive amphitheater for gladiatorial contests |
| Bayeux Tapestry | Unknown | Middle Ages | Depicts the Norman Conquest of England |
| Mona Lisa | Leonardo da Vinci | Renaissance | Famous for its enigmatic smile and sfumato technique |
| St. Peter’s Basilica | Bernini | Baroque | Grandest Catholic church in the world |
| Oath of the Horatii | Jacques-Louis David | Neoclassicism | Exemplifies the heroic virtues of ancient Rome |
| Raft of the Medusa | Théodore Géricault | Romanticism | Tragic depiction of a shipwreck |
| The Stone Breakers | Gustave Courbet | Realism | Honest portrayal of manual labor |
| Guernica | Pablo Picasso | Modernism | Anti-war masterpiece using cubist techniques |
| Bird’s Nest (Beijing National Stadium) | Ai Weiwei | Contemporary Art | Striking and innovative architecture for the 2008 Olympics |
Table 3: Artistic Techniques
| Technique | Impact on Artwork | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Painting | Depicts images on a surface using pigments | Mona Lisa, Starry Night |
| Sculpture | Creates three-dimensional forms | David, Venus de Milo |
| Architecture | Designs and constructs buildings | Parthenon, St. Peter’s Basilica |
| Drawing | Captures lines and shapes on paper | Michelangelo’s David sketch, Van Gogh’s self-portraits |
| Printmaking | Transfers images from a matrix onto paper | Japanese woodblock prints, Andy Warhol’s screenprints |
Table 4: Artistic Styles
| Style | Key Characteristics | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Realism | Depicts scenes and figures realistically | The Stone Breakers, Olympia |
| Impressionism | Captures fleeting moments of light and color | Water Lilies, Impression: Sunrise |
| Cubism | Breaks down objects into geometric shapes | Guernica, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon |
| Surrealism | Explores the subconscious mind and dreams | The Persistence of Memory, The Dream |
| Abstract Expressionism | Expresses emotions and ideas through abstract forms | Number 31, Blue Poles |