classicism

classicism. Term that, with the related words ‘classic’ and ‘classical’, is used in various (and often confusing) ways in the history and criticism of the arts. In its broadest sense, classicism denotes the opposite of Romanticism, characterizing art in which adherence to recognized aesthetic ideals takes precedence over individuality of expression. The word often implies direct inspiration from antique art, but this is not a necessary part of the concept, and according to context the word might be intended to convey little more than the idea of clarity of expression, or alternatively of conservatism. In the context of Greek art, the term ‘Classical’ (with a capital C) has a more precise meaning, referring to the period between the Archaic and Hellenistic periods, when Greek culture is thought to have attained its highest peaks. The term ‘classic’ is used to refer to the best or most representative example of its kind in any field or period. This is what Wölfflin meant when he gave the title Classic Art to his book on the Italian High Renaissance. Thus, in this sense, it would be legitimate, if wilfully confusing, to refer to Delacroix as the classic Romantic artist. The three terms ‘classic’, ‘classical’, and ‘classicism’ are, then, often not used with discrimination or exactness, the conflation of historical term and value judgement reflecting the idea (dominant for centuries) that the art of the Greeks and Romans set a standard for all future achievement. To clear up (or perhaps add to) the confusion, the rather ungainly words ‘classicistic’ and ‘classicizing’ have also entered the lists—they convey the idea of dependence on ancient models but without any sense of qualitative judgement.