Modern art and contemporary art are two distinct forms of art, however there are similarities between them. Modern art refers to the period from roughly the 1860s to the 1970s, while contemporary art refers to art made after the 1970s. While both genres can be seen in many different mediums, such as painting, sculpture and photography, they have their own distinct characteristics.
Modern art tends to be more abstract and is generally associated with radicalism and experimentation. It often features bright colours, bold shapes and unusual textures that express the artist’s feelings or ideas.
Artists such as Pablo Picasso, Wassily Kandinsky and Marcel Duchamp are considered key figures of modern art. Many of their works focus on expressing emotions or exploring new ways of thinking about life.
In contrast, contemporary art is often more figurative and realistic than modern art. It focuses on current events or societal issues that may not have been explored in depth before.
This type of artwork is often more political in nature than modern art. Artists like Ai Weiwei, Yayoi Kusama and Banksy are some of the most well-known contemporary artists who use their work to comment on current issues.
Similarities
Both modern and contemporary art can be found in a variety of mediums such as painting, sculpture and photography. Both types of artwork also share a focus on expressing emotions or exploring new ways of thinking.
Differences
The main difference between modern and contemporary art is the time period they cover – modern art usually refers to artwork created between the 1860s-1970s while contemporary artwork was created after the 1970s. Additionally, modern artwork tends to be more abstract while contemporary artwork is usually more figurative or realistic.
Conclusion:To sum up, although both forms of artwork share similarities such as their focus on expressionism or exploration, there are several key differences between them such as time period covered and style used. Modern art tends to be more abstract while contemporary artwork is usually more figurative or realistic.