Is Contemporary Art Same as Modern Art?

Art|Modern Art

The terms “modern art” and “contemporary art” are often used interchangeably by many people, but in reality, these two terms refer to two very different styles of art. Modern art is a specific period of time that began around the mid-19th century, while contemporary art refers to art created after WWII up to the present day.

Modern Art

Modern Art was a period of artistic movement that began in Europe during the mid-19th century and focused on depicting the modern world through abstract forms and shapes. It was a reaction against traditional academic painting and sought to challenge traditional notions of beauty.

This period saw the emergence of some of the most influential artists such as Claude Monet, Paul Cezanne, Vincent Van Gogh and Pablo Picasso. The works from this period were characterized by bright colors and bold use of line and shape.

Contemporary Art

Contemporary Art is an umbrella term that covers all types of artwork created from 1945 up until today. This includes all types of media such as painting, sculpture, photography, film and installation work.

Contemporary Art seeks to explore the changing world we live in by embracing new technologies, social issues and experimenting with different mediums. Unlike Modern Art which focused on creating abstract works, Contemporary Art is much more diverse in its approach and can be divided into several distinct movements such as Pop Art, Conceptualism, Installation Art and Performance Art.

Conclusion

Modern Art and Contemporary Art may appear similar at first glance but they actually refer to two very different styles of artwork with their own unique characteristics. Modern Art began during the mid-19th century while Contemporary Art can be traced back to WWII up until today.