About
About this timeline
A short, plain-language introduction to the main periods and movements in the history of art.
What this is
This site sets out 27 periods and movements in chronological order, from prehistoric cave painting to the art being made now. Each entry gives a brief overview, the ideas that define it, the people most closely associated with it and a few works worth looking up.
It is meant as a starting point: enough to place an artist or a work in context and to see how one period led to the next.
How to read it
Dates are approximate. Movements rarely begin or end in a single year, they overlap, and they arrive at different times in different places, so most ranges are marked “c.” for circa. On the timeline chart, the axis is compressed for earlier periods so that short, recent movements stay visible. Every entry lists its own dates.
The selection follows the outline of most introductory surveys, which lean toward Europe and North America, together with several traditions from Africa, Asia and the Americas. It is one path through a much larger history, not a complete account.
Sources and further reading
The summaries here are brief. For depth, images and scholarly references, these free resources are excellent:
- Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History The Metropolitan Museum of Art Essays and chronologies covering art from every part of the world.
- Smarthistory The Center for Public Art History Essays and videos written by art historians.
- Art Terms Tate Clear definitions of movements, techniques and vocabulary.
- Art history courses Khan Academy Free, structured courses from prehistory to the present.
- Google Arts & Culture Google High-resolution images from museum collections worldwide.
About the site
Maintained by HPW. Go to the timeline.