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Overview
What is Modernism?
c. 1860s – 1970sPeriod
Europe and North AmericaBegan in
12Key artists on this page
12Works with free images
8Museums to visit
Modern art includes artistic work produced during the period extending roughly from the 1860s to the 1970s, and denotes the styles and philosophies of the art produced during that era. The term is usually associated with art in which the traditions of the past have been thrown aside in a spirit of experimentation. Modern artists experimented with new ways of seeing and with fresh ideas about the nature of materials and functions of art. A tendency away from the narrative, which was characteristic of the traditional arts, toward abstraction is characteristic of much modern art. More recent artistic production is often called contemporary art or Postmodern art. Modern art begins with the post-impressionist painters like Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, Paul Gauguin, Georges Seurat and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Original Art Movements text
This is the text that appeared on this page on the original Art Movements site. It is kept for reference; some statements are simplified or out of date. Where it differs from the overview, characteristics and dates above, which are checked against Wikipedia and Wikidata, trust those instead.
Modernism was characterised by the deliberate departure from tradition and the use of innovative forms of expression that distinguish many styles in the arts and literature of the late nineteenth and the twentieth century. Modernism refers to this period’s interest in new types of paints and other materials, in expressing feelings and ideas, in creating abstractions and fantasies, rather than representing what is real. This kind of art requires its audience to observe carefully in order to get some facts about the artist, his intentions, and his environment, before forming judgments about the work. Paul Cézanne is often called the ‘Father of Modernism’.
Bird in Space by Constantin Brâncuși, 1923 · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
Period
c. 1860s – 1970s
Began in
Europe and North America
Key artists
Auguste Rodin, Jean Cocteau, Amedeo Modigliani, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Related
Symbolism, Art Nouveau, Cubism
How to recognise it
Key characteristics of Modernism
Deliberate break with academic tradition
Experiment with new materials, techniques and forms
Emphasis on the flat surface of the painting and its materials
Movement towards abstraction
Constant succession of avant-garde movements
Timeline
When was Modernism?
Modernism is usually dated c. 1860s – 1970s, beginning in Europe and North America. Dates for art movements are approximate: artists joined and left, and styles overlapped.
Each bar shows an artist's life; the shaded band is the main period of Modernism.
Auguste Rodin
Henry van de Velde
Constantin Brâncuși
Fernand Léger
Amedeo Modigliani
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Jean Cocteau
Alexander Calder
Francis Bacon
Eero Saarinen
Amrita Sher-Gil
Friedensreich Hundertwasser
Modernism
1840–1917
1863–1957
1876–1957
1881–1955
1884–1920
1886–1969
1889–1963
1898–1976
1909–1992
1910–1961
1913–1941
1928–2000
1850190019502000
Who
Key Modernism artists
Artists linked to Modernism in Wikidata, ordered by how widely they are covered on Wikipedia. Artists marked Art Icons have a full profile on our sister site.
The broad break with tradition that ran from Manet and the Impressionists to Abstract Expressionism and beyond.
When was Modernism?
Modernism: c. 1860s – 1970s. It began in Europe and North America. Dates for art movements are approximate.
What are the main characteristics of Modernism?
Deliberate break with academic tradition; Experiment with new materials, techniques and forms; Emphasis on the flat surface of the painting and its materials; Movement towards abstraction; Constant succession of avant-garde movements.
Who are the most famous Modernism artists?
Auguste Rodin, Jean Cocteau, Amedeo Modigliani, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Constantin Brâncuși.
What are some famous Modernism works?
Bird in Space by Constantin Brâncuși; Brno chair by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe; Triton Fountain by Vincent Apap; The Steerage; Painter’s Family by Henri Matisse.
Where can I see Modernism art?
Museum of Modern Art (New York, United States), Hermitage Museum (Saint Petersburg, Russia), Montparnasse Cemetery (Paris, France), J. Paul Getty Museum (Los Angeles, United States), Art Gallery of New South Wales (Sydney, Australia) hold works shown on this page.
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