What Does Mid Century Modern Art Look Like?

Art|Modern Art

What Does Mid Century Modern Art Look Like?

Mid Century Modern Art, often referred to as MCM, is a style of art that emerged in the mid-twentieth century and continues to influence modern art today. This style is characterized by its bold use of color, geometric shapes, and abstract designs. It is often considered to be an offshoot of modernism and has been used extensively in graphic design, furniture design, architecture, and other areas.

The first use of the term Mid Century Modern was coined by architectural historian William Jordy in 1954. The term was used to describe the works of architects such as Mies van der Rohe, Walter Gropius, Marcel Breuer and Le Corbusier who were creating buildings with a sleek and minimalist aesthetic. This aesthetic was a departure from traditional architecture in terms of its use of materials such as steel and glass and its open plan layout which allowed for maximum light and space.

In terms of visual art, MCM was heavily influenced by movements such as cubism and surrealism. Artists such as Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Jean Dubuffet and Willem de Kooning created works that featured bold colors, flattened perspectives and abstract shapes. These works often used primary colors in combination with black or white backgrounds to create striking compositions that were both visually appealing yet simple in their construction.

MCM has also been seen in sculpture with artists like Alexander Calder creating pieces using bright primary colors along with curved lines to create three-dimensional forms that seem almost alive.

In the world of graphic design MCM has been used extensively in advertising campaigns for companies such as IBM or Coca Cola. These campaigns often feature simple geometric shapes combined with vibrant colors to create eye-catching images that draw attention to the product being advertised.

Overall MCM is an important style of art that continues to influence modern design today. Its use of bold color combinations combined with geometric forms creates striking works that are both visually appealing yet simple in their construction.

Conclusion: Mid Century Modern Art is characterized by bold colors, geometric shapes and abstract designs which have been heavily influenced by movements such as cubism and surrealism. It has had an impact on many different areas including architecture, furniture design, graphic design and sculpture making it one of the most influential styles of art today.