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I spent my free time as a child putting small square-shaped stickers next to one another. Each time I would back away from my creation, I would see an image with a plethora of colors. Mosaics are a visual art form created by putting together small pieces of colored material, such as glass and tile. This kind of artistic expression dates back to ancient Mesopotamia, with the old pieces being a conglomerate of stone and pebbles. Starting out as a way to make pavement, mosaics soon became unstructured decorations in several ancient civilizations. They spread throughout multiple cultures as time passed and evolved into the intricate mosaics we know today, such as those depicting historical and religious figures. This incredible art form started a new form of expression by creating images without the use of paint on a flat surface.
The first known mosaic is believed to have been made in the 3rd millennium BCE, found in a Mesopotamian temple. Stones, shells, and ivory were typically used to make mosaics in the past, as they were available in the local region. In the 5th century BCE, the Greeks formulated a system for mosaics in which they made use of a grayscale color scheme and put an emphasis on texture and shape. Mosaics eventually strayed away from solely being used as the basis of walkways when greens and reds were added into the mix. Because of this, artists gained the motivation to utilize mosaics as more of an expression of art. Further production of mosaics occurred in Roman times, and many of these ancient works can still be found throughout the European continent today. The Romans created mosaics that made up decor and fountains, following the general style that the Greeks used. Small stones and glass were used more during this time period, and the addition of marble was made by individuals in North Africa, Syria, and Persia. Marble is present in a multitude of colors; artists found the substance to not be too difficult to cut as well. The outlook on mosaics as an art form expanded throughout even more nations worldwide.
A significant explosion of mosaics came about mainly due to one significant factor: Christianity. As many see them being used today, mosaics started to be created for wall and ceiling art in churches. More and more of these images pictured religious themes. And to encourage people to worship their religion, mosaics were made with expensive materials, including gold and gems. One famous piece of the mosaic art form as wall art can be found in Pompeii, Rome, which is the Alexander Mosaic. This artwork is of the clash between Alexander the Great and Darius III in the Battle of Issus, and it takes up a whole wall at the House of Faun. Although mosaics were neglected for frescoes during the Renaissance Era, they came back and were made more realistic in the Age of Enlightenment. Micro-mosaics became popular during this time as well, using minuscule pieces of tesserae, usually thousands of times smaller than a square inch. People additionally strayed from traditional styles of mosaics, including those created by the Greeks. Notable pieces of art can be found around the world aside from the famous Alexander Mosaic, whether they depict geometric patterns, well-known figures, land, or more, and more continue to be made as time goes on.
One place where mosaics can be found on many of its surfaces is the Church of Saint George in Serbia. It is home to countless artistic works, one of them being the Madaba Map, which was made in the 6th century CE. It is a map of the Middle East and is a floor mosaic in the Church of Saint George; it is also the oldest representation of the Holy Land. Another destination known for its mosaics is Wat Phra Kaew, which is the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand. On its pavilions, spires, and statues of mythological creatures, there are glass and porcelain tesserae, and its entrance is even a gold-composed mosaic. Other mosaics characterized by their religious themes can be found in the Basilica of San Vitale, the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, and the Sant'Apollinare in Classe, which are all in Ravenna, Italy. Each of their detailed mosaics tells a tale from the Old Testament, and their well-preserved Christian Byzantine mosaics are part of why they are all UNESCO World Heritage sites. A destination with more modern, colorful mosaics is Parc Güell on Carmel Hill. It overlooks Barcelona, Spain, and is a gift from Antoni Gaudi to the city. Parc Güell is a park with walls and benches that are covered with mosaics of bright colors, which were all started in 1900.
Mosaics are becoming more diverse as time continues, with their styles being both traditional and modern. Today, many mosaic artists make use of recyclable materials, and mosaics can be made by just about anyone. The art form, which is one of the oldest, lives on and has gone far past its origins in Mesopotamia. These assemblages can be formed with any type of material imaginable, as shown by the modernists who kept mosaic-making alive. Contemporary mosaic makers can create their own styles or build on those of the past, all while being able to appreciate the traditional mosaics worldwide that were created all throughout history.
Sources:
Aquablu, “A Brief History of Mosaics”, [ https://www.aquablumosaics.com/blogs/news/a-brief-history-of-mosaics ]
Mosaic Natural, “History of Mosaics”, [ https://www.mosaicnatural.com/mosaic-history ]
Moore, Peter, 2020, March 06, “13 of the world's most beautiful and intricate mosaics”, Wanderlust Club, [ https://www.wanderlust.co.uk/content/beautiful-mosaics-from-around-the-world/ ]
Richman-Abdou, Kelly, 2018, May 12, “Learn the Ancient History of Mosaics and How to Make Your Own Colorful Creation”, My Modern Met, [https://mymodernmet.com/how-to-make-a-mosaic/]
Edited by Stacy Lagman
Cover page by JIaying Chen
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