What artistic movement is defined by emotional intensity and dramatic detail in 17th-century Europe?

The artistic movement characterized by emotional intensity and dramatic detail in 17th-century Europe is Baroque art. This movement emerged in response to the preceding Renaissance period and is noted for its grandeur, movement, and vivid realism. Baroque artists aimed to evoke emotional responses akin to the intensity found in religious experiences, often employing chiaroscuro—the use of strong contrasts between light and dark—to enhance drama and emphasize the emotional weight of their subjects. The scale and grandeur of Baroque architecture, as well as the intricacy found in Baroque painting and sculpture, reflect the societal and cultural shifts of the time, including the influence of the Counter-Reformation.

Impressionism, while also significant within the broader art historical context, developed later in the 19th century and is known for its focus on the effects of light and color rather than the dramatic emotional content typical of Baroque art. The Renaissance style predates the Baroque, focusing on balance, harmony, and proportion, which are quite different from the overt expressiveness of Baroque works. Cubism, emerging in the early 20th century, radically redefined the representation of space and form but lacks the emotional intensity that defines the Baroque period. Thus, Baroque art is undeniably the movement