I find the idea compelling that a timeline can capture a period, almost like a snapshot, and allow you to turn it over and over and examine it. We can lose context so easily when we study history, and a timeline makes it easier to understand where each bit of information fits in. I think that's why they always draw me in, no matter what the subject.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's website includes an interactive Timeline of Art History. It's worth taking a look at, if you're at all interested in this sort of thing. You can search by artist, time period, art style, or area of the world.

I grabbed some pictures from the website to compare what people all over the world were doing right around when time cranked from B.C. to A.D. Check it out!

North America:


Mexico:


South America:


Europe:


Egypt:


South Asia:


Japan:


There is a LOT more information there to look at, go see for yourself! There's even a whole section on Pablo Picasso!

Labels: art, timeline