The world has experienced a succession of artistic eras marked by winds of change in various art fields: sculpture, painting, decorative arts, photography. Here, we will particularly focus on modern art which has been attached to the image of Alfred Sisley, Georges Braque, Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet and many other famous painters and sculptors since the dawn of time. But how can we define this art form? And what are its characteristics?
Modern art: an important movement in art history
Modern art is defined as all emerging works between the years 1850 and 1950; it precedes contemporary art which began after the Second World War. From the middle of the 19th century to the middle of the 20th century, the world underwent many artistic upheavals, prompting a change in mentality and an era of revolution.
Modern art was born with painters and impressionists such as Edgar Manet and ended with the emergence of Pop Art. During the century of modern art, many artistic movements were born. Among these were impressionism, expressionism, futurism, cubism, surrealism and art brut or outsider art.
Each of these movements contributed to adding a modern and innovative dimension to the forms known since 1850. Together they led to the emergence of modern art, one that broke all the rules, went beyond expectations and changed the basic perception of artists.
What characterises modern art?
Modern art refers to the major upheavals that took place from the 19th century onwards in several industrialised countries. In Europe, in particular, the industrial and technical revolutions made their presence felt throughout the continent. Indeed, modern art retains all the aspects of these enormous changes and is characterised by new approaches and creations that go beyond the usual concepts. It overturned the basic rules of the Academy of Fine Arts, which at that time laid down strict rules for painters and sculptors. Gradually, art criticism came from the mouths and writings of great writers such as Zola and Baudelaire.
Modern art was also characterised by the emergence of photography, a unique visual art form that acted as a new source of inspiration for many artists.
Where to find works of modern art these days?
The works of modern art are now carefully preserved in more than a hundred museums around the world. To discover some of them, all you have to do is visit any art and history museum in your region.
Moreover, with the advent of the Internet, you can now gaze at works of modern art from home, without having to travel. In some cases, you can even buy them at a good price.