In Europe, iron products are commonly used in the construction industry. In the early Middle Ages, ironwork mostly followed the style of ancient Rome, with elegance and solemnity as its artistic characteristic. In the early 12th to 13th centuries, ironwork was dominated by European Gothic art, with gorgeous shapes, rich colors, and a pursuit of gorgeous and vibrant effects. In the 14th and 16th centuries, the Renaissance broke through the feudal nature of medieval decoration and placed greater emphasis on humanistic significance, shifting the cultural and artistic center from palaces to the public. The craftsmanship of iron decoration became increasingly sophisticated, emphasizing surface decoration rather than structural expression, and achieving a magnificent and imposing effect. The 17th century was an era when Baroque style was prevalent in Europe. Baroque broke away from the overall form of the Renaissance period, and iron art emphasized the current flow and changes while using straight lines. It had complex decorations and a magnificent and heavy effect, with gorgeous colors and coordinated with gold. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Rococo style made the iron decoration extremely complicated and colorful, and a large number of plant patterns were used. The wave of the “Modern Art” movement emerged in the early 19th century, during which ancient Egyptian and Mayan cultures were excavated and explored. The geometric forms of pyramids, whether in appearance or structure, differed significantly from the traditional Baroque curves of Europe.
The use of iron as decoration reached a peak in the 16th century. Italy and Germany have developed a new technology of using acid to corrode iron to obtain the required shape, which is a technological breakthrough in the history of ironmaking. During this period, there were two forces driving the development of iron art: one was the privileged class of imperial relatives and Roman priests who had culture, vitality, and a love for art and architecture; the other was the extremely wealthy emerging elites who were enthusiastic about showcasing their wealth and taste in architecture and home furnishings. At this point in the development of ironwork, it has been imprinted with privileges, wealth, and status.
The rise of the Renaissance movement in Europe and the subsequent competition among various literary trends provided a broad artistic stage and soil for the development of ironwork. Before the Renaissance, the court iron art was elaborate, magnificent, classical yet restrained, and dull, with a religious and dull atmosphere. The Renaissance movement injected new blood into iron art, which not only maintained its original luxurious, exquisite, smooth, and elegant characteristics, but also placed greater emphasis on individual taste and personality. It introduces ordinary forms of artistic expression such as flowers, birds, plants, insects, and ordinary people.
The prevalence of neoclassicism has led blacksmiths back to ancient Roman and Greek cultures to seek inspiration. Ironwork has gained a simple, concise, and profound style, as well as Baroque, Rococo, naturalistic and other schools of thought, all of which have brought a strong humanistic atmosphere to ironwork to varying degrees.
Post time: Mar-12-2024