Hermes with Dionysus of Praxiteles, one of the most beautiful statues of classical Greek art
It is quite common to think of classical art as something in itself and not a style to be inspired by even today, as well as believing that classical art is simply to be admired for having laid the foundations of what is being achieved today.
Well:that's not the case.
Classical art continues to have a huge influence on design modern: whether it is taken as a model or reworked in a modern way.
This article will deal specifically with the way in which classical art influences design modern.
Classical art and modernity:some examples
Examples of how classical art continues to influence architecture and design of what surrounds us are many.
One of them all: casinos.
The casino industry tends to draw on a variety of old art styles to put its design together.
In particular, the works of art found on the walls of the pyramids of ancient Egypt are a great factor and clearly play a role even when it is not so obvious.
If you take a look at online roulette on the gambling site Desire To Win you will realize that even if the art of the pyramids is not explicitly on the page, the colors of gold and black are predominant in its design general.
Influence of the ancient arts in the 20th century
Marina, Oil on canvas by Carlo Carrà
In the 20th century the way of making art has changed radically.
Think of the artists who adhered to the currents of Cubism and of Fauvism, which were welcomed with approval (as happens in the case of the most influential artistic currents).
While this art was famous for representing images of the world around them in a way that eschewed realism, there is no doubt that these artists would have had some kind of background educational in the classic (whether it was formal or not).
Think for example of Carlo Carrà, an artist known above all for his futurist works, whose art was steeped in neoclassical traditions.
He wrote for a long time on the inspiration he found in some classical works of art, in particular the Etruscan one.
The same can be said for an artist like Gino Severini, which included the ancient landscape of Rome in many of the images of him.
This type of inspiration even found its way into propaganda, as it was used in the context of socialist realism and also in the art created by Nazi Germany and from Eastern Europe in the middle of the 20th century.
The influence of Picasso
Guernica, famous painting by Pablo Picasso
Finally, it is impossible, when studying the impact that classical art has had on modern art, not to consider Picasso's work and his influences.
Picasso is a great example of how classical art can serve as inspiration.
When he was still an art student, in 1894, he visited the Louvre and Pompeii just to be inspired by classical art.
The latter's influence is evident throughout his production, but especially in his most famous works, those of the last period.
There is a clear reference to neoclassicism in some of the works he produced in the 1920s, such as in the painting Two women who run on the beach (the race) .
The women in the painting both wear white dresses and have oversized, muscular bodies and an incredibly athletic posture, reminiscent of that of classical art statues ( Photo from :mammasullago.it, farsettiarte.it and artesplorando.it).