Modern art is a term used to describe a wide range of art created from the late 19th century onward. It covers many different styles and forms, from abstract expressionism to pop art. The first use of the term “modern art” is attributed to the French artist and critic Félix Fénéon in the late 19th century, who used it to describe the avant-garde works of artists such as Paul Cézanne, Paul Gauguin, and Vincent van Gogh.
The modern art movement began with a group of French painters called Les XX (les vingt), or “The Twenty.” The group was founded in 1883 by the Belgian critic Octave Maus and included artists such as Pierre Bonnard, Paul Gauguin, Georges Seurat, Vincent van Gogh, Camille Pissarro, and Auguste Renoir. They held exhibitions every year between 1884 and 1893 that showcased their modern works.
The first international exhibition of modern art took place in Paris in 1905 at the Salon d’Automne. The exhibit featured works by many European artists including Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso. This exhibit marked the beginning of an international movement towards modernism that would spread throughout Europe and eventually to America.
In America, Alfred Stieglitz was one of the main proponents of modern art in America during the early 20th century. Stieglitz was an influential photographer who opened his own gallery in New York City called “291” in 1905 which showed works by European modernists such as Matisse, Picasso, Cezanne and others. He also published a magazine called “Camera Work” which featured photographs by avant-garde photographers such as Edward Steichen and Gertrude Käsebier.
By 1910 there were many galleries in America featuring modern artwork from Europe including Daniel Gallery in New York City which exhibited works by Henri Matisse, Andre Derain and Maurice de Vlaminck; 291 Gallery; Anderson Galleries; Montross Gallery; Mabel Dodge’s Intimate Gallery; Kuhn Gallery; Macbeth Gallery; Anderson Galleries; Montross Gallery; Stieglitz’s 291 Gallery; 291 Fifth Avenue Galleries; Modern Art Galleries; Little Galleries of the Photo-Secession (also known as “291″); Ferargil Galleries; Dudensing Galleries ; Kahn & Jacobs Galleries ; Montross & Company ; Rehn Galleries ;and The Photo-Secessionist Room at Alfred Stieglitz’s “291”.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that Félix Fénéon first introduced modern art with his use of the term in late 19th century France to describe avant-garde works by artists like Paul Cézanne and Vincent van Gogh. This was followed by Les XX (les vingt) group of French painters who held annual exhibitions showcasing their work between 1884 and 1893. The first international exhibition of modern art took place at Salon d’Automne in 1905 Paris after which Alfred Stieglitz opened his gallery “291” which displayed European modernists’ work including those from Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso thus leading to a wave of galleries exhibiting similar artwork across America during 1910s marking an official introduction for Modern Art into American culture.