The terms contemporary and modern art are often used interchangeably, but there are some distinct differences between them. Contemporary art is the art of today, and modern art is the art of the past.
Contemporary Art
Contemporary art refers to artwork created in the present day, often with a focus on innovation and experimentation. Contemporary artists strive to create works that reflect and comment on the current times and culture. This type of artwork often draws inspiration from popular culture, such as movies, TV shows, music, fashion and technology.
Modern Art
Modern art refers to artwork created between the late 19th century and the 1970s. The term “modern” was first used to describe this period of time in the early 20th century—it was a time of great change in many areas of life due to advances in technology, science and philosophy.
Modern artists sought to break away from traditional artistic conventions and explore new ways of expressing themselves through their work. This period saw an emphasis on abstraction, surrealism and expressionism.
The Differences Between Contemporary and Modern Art
The primary difference between contemporary and modern art is their respective time frames: contemporary art is based in the present day while modern art refers to artwork created during a specific period in history (the late 19th century to 1970s). Another major difference between these two types of artwork is their subject matter; contemporary artists often draw from popular culture for inspiration while modern artists were largely focused on exploring new ways of expression through abstraction, surrealism or expressionism.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, contemporary and modern art differ primarily in their respective time frames; contemporary art is created today while modern art was created during a specific period in history (the late 19th century to 1970s). Furthermore, these two types of artwork also differ in terms of their subject matter; contemporary artists draw from popular culture for inspiration whereas modern artists were largely focused on exploring new ways of expression through abstraction, surrealism or expressionism.