Art movements

Renaissance

a revival of classical art, literature, and learning that began in Italy in the 14th century — focused on realism, perspective, and human anatomy, exemplified by artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo

Mannerism

emerged after the Renaissance, emphasizing exaggerated poses, elongated figures, and complex compositions to create tension and elegance, seen in works by El Greco and Pontormo

Baroque

a dramatic, emotional, and ornate style of the 17th century, using light, shadow, and movement to inspire awe, as in works by Caravaggio and Rubens

Rococo

an 18th-century decorative style known for its pastel colors, playful themes, and intricate detail, seen in the art of Fragonard and Boucher

Neoclassicism

inspired by ancient Greece and Rome, this movement stressed order, simplicity, and virtue, represented by Jacques-Louis David and Ingres

Romanticism

focused on emotion, nature, and the sublime, reacting against industrialization and rationalism, as seen in Turner and Delacroix

Realism

depicted ordinary life and working-class subjects without idealization, challenging romantic and academic traditions, championed by Gustave Courbet

Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood

British artists seeking truth and beauty in art before Raphael’s influence, emphasizing vivid detail and moral symbolism, like Rossetti and Millais

Impressionism

captured fleeting effects of light and color through loose brushwork and outdoor painting, pioneered by Monet and Renoir

Post-Impressionism

expanded on Impressionism with more structure and emotion, emphasizing symbolic content and geometric form, as in Van Gogh and Cézanne

Symbolism

used dreamlike imagery and myth to express emotions and ideas rather than reality, represented by Redon and Moreau

Art Nouveau

characterized by flowing organic lines, floral motifs, and decorative design across art and architecture, seen in works by Klimt and Mucha

Fauvism

used wild, non-naturalistic colors and bold brushwork to convey feeling over realism, developed by Matisse and Derain

Expressionism

expressed intense emotion through distorted forms and colors, reflecting inner psychological states, exemplified by Munch and Kirchner

Cubism

fragmented objects into geometric forms and multiple viewpoints, revolutionizing perspective, pioneered by Picasso and Braque

Futurism

celebrated speed, technology, and modern industry with dynamic compositions, led by Boccioni and Balla

Dada

rejected logic and reason through absurd, spontaneous, and anti-art creations responding to World War I, promoted by Duchamp and Höch

Surrealism

explored dreams, the subconscious, and irrational imagery to unlock creativity, with artists like Dalí and Magritte

Constructivism

Russian movement combining art and engineering, emphasizing abstract geometric forms and utilitarian design, led by Tatlin and Rodchenko

De Stijl

Dutch abstract movement using primary colors, horizontal and vertical lines to achieve harmony and balance, founded by Mondrian and van Doesburg

Bauhaus

German school integrating art, craft, and technology, emphasizing functional modern design, with Gropius, Klee, and Kandinsky

Precisionism

celebrated American industrial and architectural forms with sharp lines and simplified geometry, seen in O’Keeffe and Sheeler

Social Realism

depicted everyday struggles of the working class to inspire social change, associated with Diego Rivera and Ben Shahn

Regionalism

focused on rural American life and landscapes during the Great Depression, led by Grant Wood and Thomas Hart Benton

Abstract Expressionism

emphasized spontaneous gesture and emotional intensity through large-scale abstract works, as seen in Pollock and Rothko

Color Field Painting

featured large areas of solid color to evoke emotional or spiritual contemplation, practiced by Newman and Frankenthaler

Pop Art

drew imagery from popular culture, consumer goods, and advertising with irony and humor, exemplified by Warhol and Lichtenstein

Op Art

created optical illusions and visual vibration through precise patterns and contrasting colors, pioneered by Riley and Vasarely

Minimalism

reduced art to its basic geometric forms and materials to emphasize simplicity and perception, led by Judd and Martin

Conceptual Art

prioritized the idea behind the work over its visual form, with artists like Sol LeWitt and Joseph Kosuth

Performance Art

used the artist’s body and live actions as the artwork itself, challenging traditional art boundaries, exemplified by Marina Abramović

Photorealism

recreated photographs in paint with meticulous realism, exploring perception and surface, as in works by Chuck Close and Richard Estes

Land Art

created site-specific works in nature using earth, rocks, and organic materials, integrating art with landscape, as in Smithson’s “Spiral Jetty”

Fluxus

experimental, interdisciplinary movement blending art, music, and humor, promoting art as everyday life, led by George Maciunas and Yoko Ono

Neo-Expressionism

revived expressive, figurative painting with bold color and emotion in the 1980s, as seen in Basquiat and Kiefer

Street Art

public, often political art using graffiti and stencils to challenge authority and reclaim space, represented by Banksy and Haring

Postmodernism

questioned modernist ideals and embraced irony, parody, and cultural references, as seen in Koons and Sherman

Installation Art

transforms spaces into immersive environments or experiences, inviting viewer interaction, by artists like Kusama and Eliasson

Digital Art

created with computers and digital tools, exploring virtual, generative, and AI-driven creativity, led by Beeple and Refik Anadol

New Media Art

uses emerging technologies—video, sound, and interactive systems—to create innovative art forms, as in Nam June Paik’s work

Feminist Art

addresses gender inequality, identity, and the female experience through visual art, championed by Judy Chicago and Barbara Kruger

Performance Feminism

uses live performance to explore gender, body, and identity, represented by Carolee Schneemann and Ana Mendieta

Kinetic Art

incorporates physical movement, either mechanical or viewer-driven, to animate form, pioneered by Alexander Calder

Suprematism

Russian abstract movement focusing on pure geometric forms and spiritual expression, founded by Kazimir Malevich

Vorticism

British avant-garde movement combining Cubism and Futurism’s dynamism with bold abstraction, led by Wyndham Lewis

Ashcan School

depicted gritty urban life in early 20th-century America with realism and energy, featuring Robert Henri and George Bellows

Hard-Edge Painting

emphasized clean lines, sharp edges, and solid colors to eliminate emotional expression, seen in Stella and Kelly

Arte Povera

Italian movement using everyday or “poor” materials to challenge consumer culture and traditional art forms, with Pistoletto and Kounellis

Transavantgarde

Italian reaction to conceptual art emphasizing emotion, color, and figuration, led by Chia and Clemente

Environmental Art

integrates ecological awareness with creative expression, often using natural materials or landscapes, as in Goldsworthy and Agnes Denes