Modern Art and its Major Movements (1870-1970)

These flashcards review the major ideas, artists, timelines, and defining characteristics of Modern Art movements covered in the lecture, including Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Expressionism, and Cubism.

During what approximate years does Modern Art span?

From the 1870s to the 1970s.

Which historic development is most often credited with sparking the rise of Modernism in art?

The Industrial Revolution.

How did the Industrial Revolution influence artistic production?

It rapidly changed manufacturing, transport, and technology, encouraging artists to adopt new ideas and methods.

What new commercial structure allowed artists to display and sell works outside the academy?

The gallery system.

What key feature distinguishes Modernism from earlier academic styles?

A break from traditional/classical approaches in favor of experimentation and new perspectives.

Between which years did Impressionism flourish?

1867–1886.

Who coined the word "Impressionism," and after viewing which painting?

Critic Louis Leroy after seeing Claude Monet’s "Impression, Sunrise."

Where did Impressionist painters typically work to capture fleeting scenes?

Outdoors, in open-air settings (en plein air).

Which preliminary studio practices did Impressionists often abandon?

Preparatory sketches and detailed modelling.

Name four notable Impressionist artists.

Édouard Manet, Edgar Degas, Paul Cézanne, and Claude Monet.

Who is regarded as the founder and most prolific practitioner of French Impressionism?

Claude Monet.

What did Monet believe art should primarily express?

The fleeting moments and qualities of nature.

Which 1872 painting gave the Impressionist movement its name?

"Impression, Sunrise."

During what years did Post-Impressionism occur?

Approximately 1880–1905.

How did Post-Impressionists extend Impressionist ideas?

By emphasizing geometric forms, purposeful distortions, and unnatural or arbitrary colors.

Which later movements grew out of Post-Impressionism?

Neo-Impressionism, Expressionism, and Fauvism.

Which two artists’ groundbreaking works made Post-Impressionism so influential?

Paul Cézanne and Vincent van Gogh.

Why is Paul Cézanne considered a bridge between Impressionism and Cubism?

He began as an Impressionist but developed a structural, geometric approach that inspired Cubist artists.

According to Cézanne, which three basic forms compose nature?

Spheres, cylinders, and cones.

What is the impasto technique famously used by Vincent van Gogh?

Applying thick paint so brush or knife strokes remain visibly textured.

Which Post-Impressionist is also viewed as a pioneer of Expressionism?

Vincent van Gogh.

Mention two iconic Van Gogh paintings cited in the notes.

"Starry Night" and "Vase with 12 Sunflowers."

What is the central aim of Expressionism?

To convey the artist’s personal feelings rather than an objective depiction of reality.

List three visual traits common in Expressionist art.

Thick impasto paint, bold/un-natural colors, and loose, energetic brushstrokes.

Name three pioneers of Expressionism highlighted in the lecture.

Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, and Edvard Munch.

Which recurring themes appear in Edvard Munch’s art due to his tragic life events?

Anxiety, isolation, rejection, and death.

In what year did Edvard Munch paint "The Scream"?

1893.

"The Scream" is often described by Munch as what kind of painting?

A "soul painting" revealing inner anxiety, typical of Expressionism.

Between which years did Cubism dominate the avant-garde?

1907–1922.

Which two artists founded Cubism?

Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque.

Whose geometric compositions inspired the birth of Cubism?

Paul Cézanne’s.

How did Cubist artists treat traditional perspective and modelling?

They rejected linear perspective and three-dimensional modelling, focusing instead on the flat picture surface.

In what broader way did Cubism redefine the concept of fine art?

By breaking traditional rules, employing varied materials (even trash), and prompting society to rethink what art could be.