Modern art is a term used to describe a wide range of artistic movements that began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is characterized by its rejection of traditional artistic conventions, and its emphasis on individual expression.
The roots of modern art can be traced back to the late 18th century and the emergence of Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism, and Post-Impressionism.
Romanticism was an artistic movement that emerged in Europe in response to the Enlightenment’s emphasis on reason and logic. It celebrated nature, emotion, and imagination, and rejected the strictures of classical art forms.
Realism was an artistic movement which sought to represent everyday life truthfully. It was a reaction against idealized representations of people or scenes from history or mythology.
Impressionism was an artistic movement which sought to capture the momentary effects of light on objects. It emphasized the use of bright colors and short brushstrokes to create a sense of immediacy and spontaneity. Post-Impressionism was an artistic movement that developed out of Impressionism but rejected its emphasis on spontaneity in favor of more formal compositions with symbolic content.
In addition to these artistic movements, modern art has also been influenced by several other factors such as industrialization, urbanization, and World War I. Industrialization led to mass production which resulted in a proliferation of images in all forms of media such as magazines, newspapers, posters, advertising billboards etc., providing artists with new sources for inspiration. Urbanization created large cities filled with people from all walks of life who had their own unique stories to tell.
World War I further exposed artists to new ideas through contact with avant-garde movements from other countries such as Cubism from France or Expressionism from Germany. These influences combined with the aforementioned movements helped shape modern art into what it is today.
In conclusion, modern art has been shaped by many influences including Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism as well as industrialization, urbanization and World War I. Each factor has played an integral role in shaping this unique style of art that continues to be popular today.