Barokk

Barokk, or Baroque, is a style period in European art, architecture, and music that flourished roughly from 1600 to 1750. The term derives from the Portuguese barroco, meaning irregular pearl, and was later applied by critics to describe an elaborate and expressive aesthetic. In languages such as Hungarian and Estonian, the style is called barokk.

In architecture and the visual arts, baroque is marked by movement and drama: dynamic compositions, strong contrasts of light and shadow (tenebrism), generous ornament, and a sense of theatrical grandeur intended to engage the viewer. Buildings often employ curves, sculptural decoration, and momentary effects that suggest motion.

In music, Baroque signaled a shift toward richer expressivity, hierarchical tonality, and new forms such as opera, concerto, and fugue. The period saw the development of basso continuo and instrumental virtuosity. Notable composers include Claudio Monteverdi, Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel, Antonio Vivaldi, and Jean-Baptiste Lully.

Baroque spread across Catholic and Protestant regions, supported by courts and church patronage. It produced major works in Italy, France, the Holy Roman Empire, Spain, Portugal, and the Low Countries, shaping architecture, painting, sculpture, music, and theatre. The late Baroque overlapped with the Rococo and the beginnings of Classicism.