Modern art started with a focus on the individual artist, their style and technique, rather than on subject matter or traditional conventions. This was a radical break from the past. Artists such as Pablo Picasso, Paul Cezanne, Georges Braque and Constantin Brancusi pioneered new styles of painting and sculpture that rejected traditional forms and embraced abstraction.
The Impressionists were among the first to challenge the traditional approach to painting by focusing on light and colour instead of line and form. Their work was seen as revolutionary at the time, but it paved the way for later developments in modern art.
The Fauves were another group of artists who pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable in terms of style. They rejected realistic representation in favour of bold colours and expressive brush strokes. The Fauves’ work marked a turning point in modern art, ushering in an era of experimentation and innovation that would continue throughout the 20th century.
The Cubists were perhaps the most influential movement during this period, with their radical approach to composition that broke up form into abstract shapes. This set a precedent for further abstraction in modern art which would be explored by later movements such as Constructivism, De Stijl and Dadaism.
Surrealism was another movement that had a major impact on modern art. Surrealist artists sought to explore the depths of their subconscious minds through dreamlike imagery and symbolism, creating works that blurred the boundaries between reality and fantasy.
Abstract Expressionism emerged in America during the 1940s, marking another shift away from representation towards pure abstraction. Pioneered by artists such as Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning, abstract expressionism sought to capture emotion through gestural brushstrokes rather than realistic depictions.
In subsequent decades, a variety of other movements have emerged which have further advanced our understanding of what constitutes modern art. Pop Art celebrated popular culture; Minimalism focused on simplicity; Conceptual Art questioned artistic conventions; Postmodernism critiqued existing structures; while Performance Art explored new forms of expression.
How Did Modern Art Start? Modern art started with a focus on individual artist’s techniques rather than traditional conventions, with movements such as Impressionism paving the way for further experimentation from Cubism to Surrealism to Abstract Expressionism throughout 20th century.