A Short Look At Modern Art Movements Of The 20th Century
When those with just a passing familiarity with art think of the great artists
, they will usually come up with names like Rembrandt, Monet, Van Gogh, or perhaps Toulouse-Lautrec. All of these artists, however, pre-dated the 20th century and although a few of the most famous impressionists could be considered modern, their styles really were very different from those that came later. The modern art movements of the 20th century brought semi-abstract art and abstract designs to the forefront and they have been there ever since. Here's a short look at some of the 20th century's most influential artists.Fauvism
Heavily influenced by the bold colors of post-impressionists Van Gogh and Gauguin, the Fauvists of the turn of the century gorged themselves on colors and found their means of expression through them. This group of artists held their first exhibition in 1905, and it was Henri Matisse who emerged as the most celebrated painter and sculptor of the lot. Matisse's people and landscapes were often semi-abstract, and laid the foundation of what was to come.
Expressionism
A German art movement contemporary to the French Fauvists, Expressionism was centered in Munich and these artists' style was also characterized by extensive use of color. Paul Klee and others truly turned to the abstract, and Klee's highly geometric designs were revolutionary.
Cubism
Klee's obsession with geometry came into full force with the advent of Cubism. Cubism drew inspiration from African tribal art in which all subjects where painted or sculpted in geometric forms such as cubes and others. The most famous of these artists was Pablo Picasso, although this artist was notorious for morphing his style over the years.
Surrealism
Influenced by a number of great thinkers, especially Sigmund Freud and the contemporary French philosopher Andre Breton, surrealists such as Salvador Dali and Marc Chagall drew from their own dreams to create amazing works of art that dabbled on the edges of reality but really reflected more of the inner workings of the mind. Melting watches, vivid colors, flying people, and landscapes painted in surreal colors are the most memorable aspects of this movement.
Abstract Art
Total detachment from "reality" is the hallmark of this modern art movement. Paint spatters on the canvas by such artists as Jackson Pollock and other designs by new artists in the second half of the 20th century made such art completely open to viewer interpretation: not everyone will see the same thing.
This is just a snapshot look at some of the modern art movements of the 20th century: the story of the next century is yet to be painted.
by: Art Gib