Major Art Movements
This document presents a concise overview of significant art movements, including their characteristics and historical contexts.
Impressionism
- Originated in France during the late 19th century, primarily in the 1860s and 1870s.
- Pioneered by artists such as Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir.
- Focuses on capturing light and its changing qualities, often painted outdoors (en plein air).
- Characteristic brush strokes and a vibrant palette, often depicting everyday scenes.
- Significantly influenced subsequent movements such as Post-Impressionism and Modernism.
Surrealism
- Emerging in the 1920s, Surrealism aimed to resolve the conditions of dream and reality.
- Key figures include Salvador Dali, Rene Magritte, and Max Ernst.
- Utilises unexpected juxtapositions and dreamlike imagery to challenge common perceptions.
- Heavily influenced by psychoanalysis, particularly the works of Sigmund Freud.
- Surrealism continues to impact literature, film, and visual arts globally.
Modernism
- A broad movement that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly between 1900-1950.
- Defined by a departure from traditional styles and a shift towards abstraction and new forms.
- Included movements like Cubism, Futurism, and Constructivism.
- Notable artists: Pablo Picasso, Wassily Kandinsky, and Marcel Duchamp.
- Modernism is often associated with the ideas of progress and the embrace of technology.
Post-Impressionism
- Emerging in the 1880s as a reaction against Impressionism's emphasis on naturalism.
- Included artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cezanne, and Georges Seurat.
- Focuses on the emotional and symbolic aspects of colour and form.
- Laid groundwork for subsequent movements like Expressionism and Abstract art.
Abstract Expressionism
- Flourished in the United States in the 1940s and 1950s, marking a significant cultural shift.
- Characterised by spontaneous, automatic, or subconscious creation methods.
- Key figures include Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and Willem de Kooning.
- Emphasised the act of painting itself, promoting a deep psychological engagement.
- Considered the first American art movement to achieve global recognition.
Conclusion
Understanding these art movements is crucial for appreciating the evolution of artistic expression and culture in response to societal changes.
