Movements of Contemporary Arts

Vocabulary flashcards covering key movements, terms, and events discussed in the contemporary arts lecture.

Impressionism

Late-19th-century movement that began in Paris as a reaction against rigid academic studio painting; artists painted outdoors to capture the effects of light on everyday landscapes and scenes.

Fauvism

Early-20th-century style named after the French word for “wild beasts”; characterized by strong, vivid, non-naturalistic colors and spontaneous brushwork.

Expressionism

Art movement that replaced objective reality with subjective emotion, producing works of heightened psychological intensity rather than realistic images.

Art Nouveau

International decorative style (c. 1880-1910) noted for flowing, organic lines and motifs inspired by plants and nature; French for “New Art.”

Art Deco

Design style dominant in the 1920s-30s featuring streamlined forms, rich materials, and geometric ornament; influenced fashion, architecture, furniture, jewelry, and graphic design.

Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes (Paris, 1925)

World fair that showcased modern luxury design and gave the Art Deco movement its name.

Cubism

Modern art movement that reduced subjects to fragmented geometric forms, often showing multiple viewpoints simultaneously in painting and sculpture.

Surrealism

20th-century movement emphasizing the unconscious mind, dreams, and psychological imagery to unlock deeper realities.

Abstract Art

Art that avoids accurate visual representation, using shapes, colors, forms, and gestural marks to achieve its effect.

Pop Art

Movement that challenged fine-art traditions by incorporating imagery from mass media, advertising, comic books, and everyday consumer culture.

Roy Lichtenstein

Prominent Pop Art painter known for comic-strip imagery and Ben-Day dots; emphasized unity of marks within a work.

Op Art

Short for Optical Art; used reduced geometric forms and high-contrast color or black-and-white patterns to create visual illusions of movement.

Dadaism

Avant-garde art movement that mocked materialistic and nationalist values through absurdity and anti-art practices, influencing many European and U.S. cities.

Futurism

Italian art movement (early 20th century) aimed at capturing the dynamism, speed, and energy of the modern industrial world.

Abstract Expressionism

Post-WWII movement seeking artworks that were both abstract and emotionally expressive; inspired by Surrealist automatism and the unconscious.

Académie des Beaux-Arts (Paris)

Traditional French art institution whose formal studio rules prompted Impressionists to rebel and paint outdoors.

Plein-air Painting

French term for painting directly outdoors, central to Impressionist practice of studying natural light.

Fauve

French for “wild animal”; nickname for artists of the Fauvist movement due to their bold use of untamed color.