Gothic art combines images of the dark and often disturbing with the beautiful and compelling. Gothic art was originally a Christian form expressed through sculpture and Cathedrals, but has since expanded. There are several mediums of art affected by gothic art. These include not only architecture and sculpture, but painting and even music as well. Though gothic art has spread into several different genres at different times, it was most prominent during the medieval period and lasted for about 200 years. Gothic art began at a similar time gothic architecture was becoming a more prominent form within cathedrals. However, by the 14th century it had shifted from a form present only in cathedrals to a broader architectural design which, continuing in to the 15th century, developed into Renaissance art.

Though some of the key features of gothic architecture are towering ceilings, soaring pillars and pointed archways the gothic style is more comprehensive than that. Likewise, though there are predominantly darker images within gothic art, it is not only interested in the morbid. One of the primary features of gothic art is the somber aspect of many of the paintings. Thus, many associate it with dark gothic art. However, though many of the images are dark and generally more solemn, there is a compelling beauty present within the art form. Because of the sheer size and immensity of many of the cathedrals, this idea is usually easy to understand in gothic architecture. The darkness of the form gives the architecture a more massive and mysterious sensation; a similar feeling one has when encountering God.

Because most gothic paintings are not representations of the gothic cathedrals, some of this aspect is lost. However, what many gothic paintings seek to accomplish within their form is to draw on the mysterious and strange aspect of the human psyche. For this reason, when viewing the gothic art gallery at Imagekind you will notice paintings and pictures of strange and mysterious images ranging from ghostly figures to enchanting creatures. The magical and mystifying aspect of gothic art allows room in the imagination for such images as gothic art fairies.

The gothic art gallery at Imagekind holds an extensive collection of both museum and member artwork. You can buy a framed work of one of Grant Wood’s famous paintings such as ‘American Gothic’ or browse the members section and find new and rising artists who are capturing our own cultural contexts in the 21st century. All of the artwork at Imagekind is of high quality prints that capture the compelling inspiration of every artist.