"Je he suis parti d'aucun systeme preetabli: My aim as art historian is to see and observe the world of complex images. In the course of study and observation I came to think that it would be invaluable to present, even if it is incomplete, some brief...
"Je he suis parti d'aucun systeme preetabli: My aim as art historian is to see and observe the world of complex images. In the course of study and observation I came to think that it would be invaluable to present, even if it is incomplete, some brief sketches on the creative works and activities which have been done by artists.
I attempted to analyze the relationship between the logics and life of history as clearly as possible."
The above mentioned is on the theoretical, systemetical "Vie des Forms" (1934; English Edition, "The life of Forms in Art", Yale University Press, 1942).
Focillon, at first, tries to study and analyze the history of Arts as continuity of Evolution of Style, and he also emphasized the individual, independent movements of life in the evolution of styles. According to Ficillon's words, he nevertries to set his theory beforehand, but he rather tries to analyze the works of artists in various aspects and observations. In brief, it can be said that there is the world of styles in each work. The problem on the work is logical understanding of the life of style of work. Therefore, only through the characteristics of the life style of work, a true analysis of complexes of work comes to a conclusion of unified understanding.
The individual, independent life of style is composed and formed in the artistic works as basic and evolutionary theory.
Therefore, also can be said that the life of style in not the incidental result from exterio but its own, indispensable result from the work itself.
Through his deep insight as art critic and analyst, Fociion developed his theory of the Four Aspect Principle in Art Styles, as following:
Ⅰ. Experimental Age or Archaic Age
Ⅱ. Classic Age
Ⅲ. Age of Refinement
Ⅳ. Baroque Age