ARH 253 - Exam 4 - Terms

The University of Alabama - Tom Wegrenowski - Exam 4 - 4 Exam

Modernism

A cultural and artistic movement from the late 19th to early 20th centuries, breaking from tradition to embrace innovation and experimentation.

A movement in Western art the developed in the second half of the 19th century and sought to capture the images of sensibilities of the age.

Impressionism

A late 19th-century art movement focused on capturing the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere in everyday scenes.

Claude Monet

A leading French Impressionist painter, known for his exploration of light, color, and natural landscapes. He marked a break from traditional landscape painting and continued modernist themes of acknowledging the paint and canvas.

Edgar Degas

A key Impressionist artist known for his innovative compositions and focus on movement.

Post-Impressionism

A late 19th-century movement that developed as a reaction against Impressionism, focusing on more structure, emotional depth, and symbolic content.

Vincent Van Gogh

A Dutch Post-Impressionist painter known for his bold, expressive style and emotional intensity. He used vibrant color, thick brushstrokes, and expressive forms to convey emotion and personal turmoil. He influenced the development of modern art, particularly Expressionism, and remains one of the most famous and emotionally impactful artists in history

Paul Cézanne

A French Post-Impressionist painter often referred to as the "father of modern art." Known for his unique approach to form, structure, and color, which laid the groundwork for Cubism and other modern movements. His approach to structure and color influenced the development of Cubism, and he is seen as a bridge between 19th-century Impressionism and 20th-century modernism.

Symbolism

A late 19th-century art movement that emphasized representing ideas and emotions through symbolic imagery, often focusing on the mystical, dreamlike, and the subjective. They wanted to see through things to a significance and reality far deeper than what superficial appearance revealed to the eyes, often exploring the dark or irrational imagery of the human psyche.

Avant-Garde

A term used to describe innovative, experimental, and unconventional artistic movements that push the boundaries of traditional art, often challenging societal norms.

Paul Gauguin

A French Post-Impressionist painter known for his vivid colors, bold symbolism, and exploration of non-Western cultures. He moved away from the naturalism of Impressionism to focus on symbolism, flat color, and emotive content. His focus on color and symbolic content influenced Expressionism and modern art, and his exploration of "primitivism" paved the way for later artists’ engagement with non-Western cultures.

Fauvism

An early 20th-century art movement characterized by the use of bold, vibrant colors and simplified forms to express emotion over realism.

Marcel Duchamp

A French-American artist associated with Dada and Surrealism, renowned for his provocative and innovative approach to art. He challenged traditional notions of art by focusing on conceptual ideas over aesthetics. He revolutionized 20th-century art, influencing movements like Conceptual Art and paving the way for contemporary art's focus on ideas and context.

Henri Matisse

A French artist and a leading figure of Fauvism, celebrated for his use of bold color, expressive forms, and innovative compositions. He focused on color as a means of expression rather than realism, using simplified forms and striking contrasts. His innovations influenced modern art, particularly through his mastery of color and his later cut-out works, which bridged painting and sculpture.

Readymade

An ordinary, manufactured object selected by an artist and designated as art. Influenced movements like Conceptual Art and continues to shape contemporary art practices.

German Expressionism

An early 20th-century modernist movement in Germany characterized by emotional intensity, distorted forms, and bold use of color and line. Influenced later movements like Abstract Expressionism and film, particularly German cinema in the 1920s

New Objectivity (Neue Sachlichkeit)

A post-World War I German art movement emphasizing realistic, detached, and often critical depictions of society and politics. Provided a powerful critique of the interwar period and influenced later movements addressing social and political issues.

The Bridge

A German Expressionist group founded in 1905, emphasizing raw emotion and a break from traditional academic art. Symbolized a "bridge" to the future of modern art, connecting past traditions to contemporary innovation.

Metaphysical School

An early 20th-century Italian art movement that combined classical elements with dreamlike, enigmatic imagery to explore themes of mystery and the subconscious. Pioneered the use of mysterious, symbolic imagery that later inspired Surrealist artists

The Blue Rider

A German Expressionist group founded in 1911, focusing on spiritual and emotional expression through symbolic and abstract art. The groups name symbolizes a spiritual journey, reflecting the group’s emphasis on transcendence and inner experience.

Surrealism

A 20th-century art movement that sought to unlock the unconscious mind, merging dreamlike imagery with reality to explore deeper truths. It A 20th-century art movement that sought to unlock the unconscious mind, merging dreamlike imagery with reality to explore deeper truths.

Vassily Kandisnky

A Russian painter and art theorist, considered one of the pioneers of abstract art and a leading member of Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider). Focused on non-representational art, using color, shape, and composition to evoke emotion and spiritual experiences. His work laid the foundation for modern abstract art, inspiring later movements such as Abstract Expressionism.

Naturalistic Surrealism

A branch of Surrealism focusing on realistic, highly detailed depictions of dreamlike and irrational scenes.

Biomorphic Surrealism

A branch of Surrealism emphasizing organic, abstract shapes that evoke living organisms or natural forms.

Pablo Picasso

A Spanish artist and one of the most influential figures in 20th-century art, co-founder of Cubism and a pioneer of modernism. Renowned for his versatility, he worked in multiple styles, including Cubism, Surrealism, Neoclassicism, and Expressionism. He redefined art with his constant reinvention, influencing countless movements and generations of artists.

Suprematism

A Russian abstract art movement founded by Kazimir Malevich in 1915, emphasizing pure geometric forms and the supremacy of artistic feeling over representation. It influenced modern art movements like Constructivism and Minimalism, marking a significant shift toward abstraction and conceptual art.

Stages of Cubism

Early Cubism

• Simplified,Angular Forms; objects. still recognizable

Analytical Cubism

• Monochromatic palette; multiple perspectives at once.

Synthetic Cubism

• Focus on symbolic forms and synthesis of objects.

Constructivism

A Russian avant-garde movement from the early 20th century that focused on art as a tool for social and industrial purposes, emphasizing abstraction, functionality, and modern materials. I influenced modernist architecture, graphic design, and industrial design globally, serving as a foundation for movements like Bauhaus and De Stijl.

Assemblage

A modern art technique that involves combining found objects or non-traditional materials into a three-dimensional composition.

De Stiji

A Dutch artistic movement founded in 1917 that emphasized abstraction, simplicity, and the use of geometric forms and primary colors. It had a lasting impact on modern design, architecture, and abstract art, influencing movements such as Bauhaus, Minimalism, and Abstract Expressionism.

Futurism

An early-20th-century avant-garde movement that originated in Italy, emphasizing speed, technology, and modernity. It sought to capture dynamic movement, energy, and the essence of modern life, rejecting traditional forms of representation.

Bauhuas

A German art and design school founded in 1919 by architect Walter Gropius, known for its integration of art, craft, and industrial design. It emphasized functionality, simplicity, and the use of modern materials.

Dada

An anti-art movement that emerged during World War I, characterized by its rejection of traditional artistic values, logic, and aesthetics. It sought to challenge conventional culture and embrace absurdity, chaos, and irrationality.

Salvador Dali

A Spanish surrealist artist known for his eccentric personality, imaginative works, and meticulous technical skills. He is famous for his dreamlike, bizarre, and highly detailed paintings that explore themes of the unconscious, time, and memory. His work often combines vivid, realistic imagery with surreal, fantastical elements.

Regionaliism

An American art movement that emerged in the 1930s as a response to both urbanization and European modernism. It focused on depicting rural and small-town life, often idealizing it as a symbol of American values and identity.

Harlem Renaissance

An intellectual, cultural, and artistic movement that took place in Harlem, New York, during the 1920s. It was a flourishing of African American art, literature, music, and performance, celebrating Black identity and challenging racial stereotypes.

Armory Show

Formally known as the International Exhibition of Modern Art, it was a groundbreaking art exhibition held in 1913 in New York City. It introduced American audiences to modern European art, particularly movements like Impressionism, Fauvism, Cubism, and Abstract Art.

Diego Rivera

A prominent Mexican painter and muralist, known for his large-scale works that often depicted social, political, and historical themes. He was a key figure in the Mexican Muralism movement and was married to fellow artist Frida Kahlo.

Alfred Stueglitz

An influential American photographer and art promoter, often credited with helping elevate photography to the status of fine art. He played a key role in introducing European modernism to the United States and was a central figure in the development of American photography in the early 20th century.

Frida Kahlo

A celebrated Mexican painter known for her deeply personal, symbolic, and surreal self-portraits. Her works explore themes of identity, pain, and Mexican culture, and she is often regarded as a feminist icon due to her portrayal of female experiences and strength.

Clement Greenberg

An influential American art critic, best known for his role in promoting Abstract Expressionism and his theoretical support of modernist art in the mid-20th century. His writings helped define and shape the direction of art in the post-World War II period.

Jackson Pollock

An influential American painter, widely regarded as one of the leading figures in Abstract Expressionism. He is known for his unique drip painting technique, which revolutionized the field of modern art and challenged traditional approaches to painting.

Abstract Expressionism

An American art movement that emerged in the 1940s and 1950s, characterized by an emphasis on spontaneous, emotional expression, abstract forms, and the exploration of the subconscious mind. It was the first American movement to achieve international recognition and is often associated with the post-World War II era.

Gesture Painting

A style of painting associated with Abstract Expressionism, emphasizing the physical act of painting itself. The artist's emotions and movements are conveyed through energetic brushstrokes, drips, splashes, and marks.

Color Field Painting

A style of painting that also emerged from Abstract Expressionism, but focuses on large areas or fields of color, aiming to evoke emotion and contemplation through color relationships and spatial composition.

Land Art (Robert Smithson)

Also known as Earth Art, is an art movement that emerged in the 1960s and 1970s, where artists use natural materials such as earth, rocks, and plants to create large-scale works that are integrated into the landscape. The movement challenges traditional art by removing the artwork from galleries and placing it directly in the natural environment.

Minimalism

An art movement that emerged in the late 1950s and 1960s, characterized by simplicity, clean lines, and an emphasis on form and materials. The movement sought to strip away unnecessary details and focus on the most fundamental aspects of art, often using geometric shapes, repetitive patterns, and industrial materials.

Jasper Johns

An American artist best known for his role in bridging Abstract Expressionism and the emerging Pop Art movement in the 1950s and 1960s. His work is characterized by its use of familiar symbols and objects, often rendered in unconventional ways, challenging traditional perceptions of art and representation.

Pop Art

An art movement that emerged in the mid-1950s, primarily in Britain and the United States. It draws inspiration from popular and mass culture, including advertisements, comic strips, consumer goods, celebrities, and other elements of everyday life. The movement sought to challenge traditional distinctions between fine art and commercial art, often incorporating elements of popular culture into high art.

Andy Worhol

An American artist and one of the most influential figures in the Pop Art movement. Known for his use of mass-production techniques and his exploration of consumer culture, celebrity, and the role of mass media in modern life, he revolutionized the art world by transforming everyday objects and famous icons into high art.

Robert Rauschenberg

An American artist known for his innovative and experimental work that blurred the boundaries between fine art and popular culture. He is often associated with both Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art, though his work transcends these movements. His art explored the use of everyday materials, found objects, and a wide range of media, pushing the boundaries of what art could be.

Jane Quick-to-see Smith

A Native American artist of the Salish and Kootenai tribes. Known for her use of mixed media and vibrant, symbolic works, she addresses issues of identity, culture, and the history of Native American people in her art. Her work blends abstraction with cultural symbolism, creating powerful visual narratives that engage with themes of displacement, heritage, and contemporary Native American life.

Kehinde WIley

An American portrait painter known for his vibrant, large-scale portraits of African American men and women. He is celebrated for reimagining classical portraiture by blending traditional European styles with contemporary African American subjects. He gained widespread recognition for his portrait of former President Barack Obama, which was unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery in 2018.

El Anatsui

A Ghanaian artist renowned for his innovative work in sculpture, particularly his large-scale, intricate sculptures made from discarded materials. His work is influenced by both traditional African art and modern global concerns, with a focus on themes such as consumption, waste, and the interconnectedness of cultures. He is known for transforming everyday objects into stunning, environmentally-conscious works of art.

Jenny Saville

A British artist known for her large-scale, figurative paintings that explore themes of the human body, identity, and physicality. Her work often focuses on the female body, presenting it in a raw, unidealized manner that challenges conventional beauty standards and the traditional portrayal of women in art.