MIDDLE AGES (10th-14th century)

Brief history:

During the Middle Ages, painting became a more and more noticeable art. The social changes and the new techniques emerged, offered the possibility for artists to create in a more realistic and thorough manner, much more humanized works that revolutionized the Western art.

At the end of the Romanic period, painting was still considered a less important art, used only for decorating the surfaces for which could not be found larger or richer ways to cover them. Where this was possible, upholsteries, mosaics, precious metals or sculptures were preferred. The regular painter was called only to color the sculptures created by other hands, or to decorate the walls; the most prized form of painting was done by entire generations of monks in writing rooms, where their manuscripts were illustrated with vivid and beautifully shaped paintings.

At the end of the 13th century, the European society was developing rapidly, offering new opportunities for artists.

The nobility mansions and the castles became places of an increasingly higher grandeur, while cities such as Paris, Prague, London, Italy’s cities and the Netherlands were booming. Paintings were desired not only by the aristocracy and by the clergy, but also by the prosperous townspeople, and this was primarily for reasons of piety. At the same time, more and more people became literate, book readers, therefore creating an increasingly higher demand for laic publications (non-religious).

The most successful of these were sumptuous achievements dedicated to royal protectors or to the nobility. Their creators were no longer of monachal order, but they were professionals having their own workshops. Despite the fact that their social status remained relatively low, many artists’ names and information started to be known.

Hairstyle History:

Hairstyles- only women’s for the beginning- have gone through a significant change. Until now, hair was hidden from sight by a barbette, a usual cover for the Middle Ages women. This cover was made of a ribbon for the chin, worn together with a thick band over the head. On the other hand, it was usual for the unmarried girls to wear their hair long and loose. Following the stylish way of dressing, now new hairstyles appeared, that demanded more time and more skills. Although it originated in the grandiose courts of France and Burgundy, these trends in fashion spread throughout the whole Europe.

Around the middle of the 14th century, the similarities between clothing of both sexes disappeared: men clothes finally began to differ from those of women. This was indeed a radical change, if we think that until now, men and women worn basically the same kind of robe, straight cut, which covered the silhouette. Women were now trying to have a wasp waist, round breast and hips, which to emphasize their feminine forms in a way unknown before.

Source of inspiration:

“History of beauty”- Umberto Eco
“History of hairdressing”- Cecilia Caragea
“Isms- Art understanding” – Stephen Little