Question

How did art change as a result of the Black Death ?

Answer 1

The Black Death reinforced dark realism in art. Fear of divine wrath terrified both the poor and the rich. Many artists began painting scenes of hell instead of glorifying biblical figures, as most people saw the pandemic as the acts of an enraged God and therefore painted what they believed would become of themselves if they did not atone for their sins.

Answer 2

The horrors of the Black Death infiltrated all aspects of European culture, especially art. It stopped the progress being made in art because so many artists died from this horrible disease. While the first half of the 14th century saw the creation of art that displayed civic pride and joy, the art created after the Black Death was severe and emphasized guilt and the need for repentance.

These effects were long lasting and brought a gloomy darkness to visual art, music, and literature. The gruesome trauma of this era activated the imaginations of writers and painters in very unsettling ways for decades. The insecurity regarding survival created an atmosphere for doom and gloom that influenced artists to move away from optimistic themes and turn to images of Hell, Satan, and the Grim Reaper. Many painters and sculptors simply gave up art because they believed that it was utterly hopeless to create beauty in a hellish world.

Step-by-step explanation: