Modern art is a broad term used to describe a wide range of artistic styles and movements of the late 19th and 20th centuries. This article will explore what art movement started the modern era and how it has shaped the art world we know today.
Impressionism is considered by many to be the first major modern art movement. Developed in France in the late 1860s, Impressionism was an artistic reaction to traditional painting techniques that focused on capturing realistic images of landscapes, people, and everyday life. Impressionists used bright colors, loose brushstrokes, and a variety of textures to create paintings that evoked emotion rather than simply depicting a scene.
Fauvism was another early modern art movement which developed in France around 1905. Fauvist painters often used bold colors and exaggerated forms to create works that were intended to express emotion rather than represent reality. They were also known for their use of expressive shapes, lines, and brushstrokes which gave their paintings a sense of movement.
Cubism was perhaps the most influential modern art movement of the early 20th century. Developed by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque in 1907, Cubism focused on breaking down objects into their basic geometric forms such as squares, rectangles, and circles. This allowed for multiple perspectives to be seen at once in one painting or sculpture, creating an entirely new way for artists to approach representation.
Surrealism, which began in the 1920s, also had a huge impact on modern art by introducing elements of fantasy into works of art. Inspired by Sigmund Freud’s theories about dreams and the unconscious mind, Surrealist artists often used bold colors and distorted images to create works that depicted dream-like scenes or bizarre representations of reality.
The Abstract Expressionist movement developed in New York City during World War II and was largely influenced by Eastern philosophy as well as psychoanalytic theory developed by Freud himself. Abstract Expressionists were known for their large scale abstract paintings that emphasized personal expression over traditional representation or symbolism. They often used gestural brushstrokes or drips of paint to create dynamic compositions that captured an artist’s inner emotions or thoughts on canvas or board.
All of these movements have had an important influence on modern art today, with contemporary artists still looking back at these movements for inspiration when creating new works of art. From Impressionism’s focus on light and color to Abstract Expressionism’s emphasis on personal expression; each movement has left its own unique mark on our current understanding of what constitutes ‘modern’ art.
Conclusion: What Art Movement Started The Modern Era? Impressionism is considered by many to be the first major modern art movement which began in France during the late 1860s; however subsequent movements such as Fauvism, Cubism, Surrealism, and Abstract Expressionism are also credited with revolutionizing how we view modern art today.