Final answer:
Mannerism is an artistic style representing the unsettled political and religious conditions in Europe during the 16th century, featuring exaggerated and stylized features as a reaction against the idealized forms of the High Renaissance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mannerism has been interpreted as an artistic expression of the unsettled political and religious conditions in Europe during its period of development from around 1520 until about 1580. This style of art, characterized by elongated forms, contorted poses, and a rejection of the Classical norms of the High Renaissance, emerged alongside significant events such as the Copernican model, the Sack of Rome, and the increasing challenge that the Protestant Reformation posed to the power of the Catholic Church. It was particularly prominent in Florence and Rome, and notable Mannerist painters included Jacopo da Pontormo, Rosso Fiorentino, Parmigianino, and Giulio Romano.
By the end of the 1500s, conflicts between Protestant and Catholic factions led to wars and turmoil in Europe, significantly influencing artistic directions. Mannerism was a reaction against the harmonious and idealized depictions prevalent in High Renaissance art, offering a dissonance and intrigue that came with its stylized aesthetic. It later gave way to the Baroque period, which marked another shift in artistic style as a response to the Counter-Reformation and tumultuous religious landscape of the time.