Modern Art (1st Quarter)

Impressionism, Post-Impressionism Expressionism and Abstractionism

Modern Art of 20th Century

• Art reflects life, history, and culture.

• 20th century changes:

  • Technology: Electronic Age → Cyberspace Age

  • Events: World Wars, Great Depression (1930s), Asian Economic Crisis (1990s), AIDS epidemic, environmental destruction.

• Artists expressed feelings in bold, innovative ways.

Impressionism

• Origin: Late 19th century, Paris.

• Shows a momentary “impression” of a scene, not detailed.

Claude Monet

• Founder, landscapes, water lilies.

• soleil levant or sunrise

• paints outdoors for light effects

Edouard Manet

• Modern-life subjects.

Auguste Renoir

• central figures; snapshot of real life

• Colorful, lively scenes.

 

Post-Impressionism

• late 19th century, mainly in France

• Added structure, bold colors, geometric forms, and emotional depth.

• emphasizes shapes & bold colors.

Paul Cézanne

Geometric approach, bridge to modern art.

Vincent van Gogh

emotional swirling brush strokes.(Starry Night).

Expressionism

• Distorted forms, strong colors, emotional focus.

Fauvism

bold colors and visual distortions (Henry Matisse)

Dadaism

Playful yet rebellious; protest after WWI.

Surrealism

dream-like and illogical scenes

Social Realism

Social protest and reform

Neoprimitivism

Tribal and folk art influences (Amedeo Modigliani)

Abstractionism

• Simplified, exaggerated, or distorted.

• Logical and analytical (vs. emotional Expressionism).

representational

recognizable subject

pure abstraction

no recognizable subject

Cubism

cubes, planes (Pablo Picasso)

Futurism

Speed, machines.

(Gino Severini)

Mechanical Style

precise shapes

result of the futurist movement

Nonobjectivism

no figures, pure shapes, and colors.

Action Painting

splatter/drip (Jackson Pollock).

Color Field Painting

• large color areas for mood.

Pop Art

Everyday objects as art (Roy Lichtenstein).

Op Art

optical illusion

Conceptual Art

Idea-focused temporary

Contemporary Art Forms

1. Installation Art – Large-scale, modifies space.

2. Performance Art – Live actions as art (dance, music, theater, etc.).