Art has plenty of definitions as it’s really hard to include all the aspects of art into one

definition. There are the most popular and comprehensive definitions of art:

— The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual
form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their
beauty or emotional power.

— Subjects of study primarily concerned with human creativity and social life, such as
languages, literature, and history (as contrasted with scientific or technical subjects).

— The term “the arts” includes, but is not limited to, music (instrumental and vocal), dance,
drama, folk art, creative writing, architecture and allied fields, painting, sculpture,
photography, graphic and craft arts, industrial design, costume and fashion design, motion
pictures, television, radio, film, video, tape and sound recording, the arts related to the
presentation, performance, execution, and exhibition of such major art forms, all those
traditional arts practiced by the diverse peoples of this country. (sic) and the study and
application of the arts to the human environment.

Art has different forms, but all of them can be divided into several general groups. Here they
are:

Visual arts

This group includes Architecture, Ceramics, Conceptual art, Drawing, Painting,

Photography, Sculpture. The visual arts are those creations that we can see rather than
something like the auditory arts, which we hear. These art forms are extremely diverse,
from the artwork that hangs on your wall to the movie you watched last night.

The Literary Arts

The Literary Arts relate to the written word and include writing, editing, critiquing, teaching,
reviewing, and other activities related to written communication. These activities take place
in a variety of settings, such as classrooms, writers' workshops/centers, book and magazine
publishing companies, and libraries. The "book arts" are related to a book's physical
presentation and can involve its paper, binding, printing, or design. Possible occupational
titles include writer, editor, reviewer, teacher, librarian, archivist, researcher, publisher,
interpreter, and translator.
Performing arts
The performing arts range from vocal and instrumental music, dance and theatre to
pantomime, sung verse and beyond. They include numerous cultural expressions that
reflect human creativity and that are also found, to some extent, in many other intangible
cultural heritage domains. Many forms of performing arts are under threat today. As cultural
practices become standardized, many traditional practices are abandoned. Even in cases
where they become more popular, only certain expressions may benefit while others suffer.
Other arts
Applied arts: The applied arts are all the arts that apply design and decoration to everyday
objects in order to make them aesthetically pleasing. The term is used in distinction to the
fine arts that produce objects solely to be beautiful or stimulate the intellect. In practice, the
two often overlap.

Example of applied arts are:

Automotive design

The fashion industry

Furniture design

Paper marbling applied to books

Pottery decoration

1. Based on the way of artistic image existence, art can be divided into time art, space art,
and space-time art. Art of time: music, literature; space art: architecture, sculpture, painting;
time and space art: drama, film and television, dance.

2. Based on the aesthetic style of artistic image, art can be divided into auditory art, visual
art, and audiovisual art. Auditory art: music.

3. Based on the content characteristics of artworks, art can be divided into performance art
and reproduction art. Performance art: music, dance, architecture, calligraphy; reproduction
art: painting, sculpture, drama, film.

4. Based on the materialized form of artistic works, artworks can be divided into dynamic art
and static art. Dynamic art: music, dance, drama, film, and television; static art: painting,
calligraphy, sculpture, architecture, arts, and crafts, etc.

The visual Arts gives a way to express feeling, emotion, opinion, or taste through visual means, for

instance, photography, painting, sculpting and drawing.

Performing Arts have ways to express an opinion, emotion, feeling, or taste, through means of

performance, like, theatre, public speech, dance, music, and more.

Visual Arts, a Definition:

Visual arts are primarily created for Aesthetic Purposes, and judged for its beauty and meaningfulness.

Visual Arts include painting, sculpture, watercolour, graphics, drawing and architecture. Also falling in the
Visual Arts category is; music, poetry, film, photography, conceptual art and printmaking. People in this field

are termed, artists.

Performing arts are basically arts or skills that require a performance in front of a public audience.

Examples are acting, singing and dancing. Other forms of the Performing Arts include opera, theatre, magic or

illusion performances, mime, spoken word, recitation and public speaking. People in this field are termed,

performers.

An Introduction to Different Types of Art

Painting Styles
The ‘Wiki-people’ defines the art of painting as

“the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface”

Well, how can anyone make that any simpler! But, is art painting as simple as it sounds? To be fair, it never
is and never was.

The art of painting is evolving incessantly. The way artists visualize scenarios and depict it onto the canvas is
changing. The use of colors are getting complex and the way thoughts are illustrated on the canvas is getting
even more intricate.

For any beginner, it might be difficult to get used to the different practices and styles the artists follow in
creating paintings. Here are some of the common painting styles artists follow today.

The Western Style

The Western style is one of the most commonly followed art painting style today. Modernism, Impressionism,
abstract painting and some less famous styles like photorealism and surrealism, are all part of the vast Western
style family.
Modernism

A modernist painting by Gloria Goodman Bernstein.

Even though many have tried to define modernism, the real modernism has always managed to slip away from
those definitions. Somebody had to draw a line and it turned out to be the art critics who took up the
responsibility. So, now, Modernism is officially the period between 1860 and 1970.

In simple words, modernism is a break away from the traditional form of art painting. One can say it is an
infused form of art derived from many disciplines. In a way, modernism is a radical way of thinking by artists
of that era, with no boundaries set by traditional method.

Impressionism

An Impressionist painting ‘Sunrise’ by Claude Monet

Impressionism is an art movement originated in Paris in late 19th century. Impressionism caught eyes of many
critics, but mostly for the wrong reasons. The thin brush strokes, common and ordinary subjects, unusual
angles etc are some features of this style of art painting. Outdoor sceneries of landscapes and even streets
became settings for impressionist painters.

If you look closely at impressionist paintings, you will find that black is a color that is rarely used. For dark
tones, complementary colors were mixed and used. The artists were very keen about making the color and
reflection right for every object on the canvas. More importance was given to natural lighting. Impressionist
paintings were even considered as an alternative to photography, which then lacked the luxury of colors.

Abstract Style

An abstract painting by Victor Figol

Any art that illustrates anything, but not in the truest of forms, can be classified as abstract art. This is a real
product of radical thought.

In abstract paintings, you will never find a man, animal or even any real life object. Every object on the canvas
is represented as either colors and or shapes. A simple shape on the painting can do many wonders. The artist
might augment the shape with some simple exaggerations. Sometimes, the shape is scaled down to produce the
effect the artist wants on the canvas.

The colors on the canvas represent emotions and shapes symbolize objects. In the abstract style paintings of
21st century, anything can happen on the canvas. There is hardly any direction on the abstract paintings of
today. Yet, the results are appealing and aesthetically satisfying.
Expressionism

An expressionist painting ‘The Scream’ by Edward Munch

The abstract style of art takes many forms. Expressionism is one such form. This style of painting is closely
related to the emotions and feelings of human heart. This emotional overflow of human heart is illustrated
from a subject’s perspective. The expressionist paintings either represents emotional state of the artist or is
intended to induce some kind of an emotional echo within the viewer.

Jackson Pollock was one of the biggest names in expressionist art painting. However, in most of his famous
creations, he hardly touched the canvas with a brush. Pouring paint onto the canvas was his style of painting.
This way he could capture the natural movement of paint too. Another famous expressionist artist is Vincent
Van Gogh.

Cubism
‘Cassie Thinking About Cubism’ by Philip Absolon

Famous artist Paul Cezanne said that, “Everything in nature takes its form from the sphere, the cone, and the
cylinder.” Later this became the basis of Cubism. In this abstract art form, geometrical solids play an
important role. The final product will be a blend of actual form of the object and some geometrical shape.

Today, Cubism is another style of abstract art painting. But, Cubism was a strong presence in the art world
even before abstract painting became prevalent. People like Picasso, Braque, Gris etc followed Cubism and
made it famous. The world of art painting would have never been the same without contributions from these
Cubist artists.

Surrealism

A surrealistic painting by Vladimir Kush

Although not the purest form of abstract painting, you will find traces of abstract thinking in Surrealism. This
is actually a movement that sprouted in the early 20th century. It included writing and many forms of visual
artworks. Obviously, paintings became a big part of this movement. These Surrealistic paintings could strike
you with elements of surprise. This remains one of its primary features too. Juxtaposition, placing two
abstract concepts together, is another feature of Surrealistic paintings.

The Eastern Style

The Chinese Painting Style

A beautiful Chinese painting

The oldest artistic tradition in the world, Chinese painting, involves techniques used in Calligraphy. The
artists use colored inks for painting on paper, silk etc. But, they never use oil for painting.

Gong-bi and Shui-mo, meaning meticulous and ink & wash painting, are the two widely used techniques. The
first technique uses detailed and precise brush strokes while the other is the common watercolor painting.

The artists are not just drawing the appearance of an object. They look to capture the soul of that object, the
energy within, the spirit. This is what makes Chinese paintings different. They also try to keep the use of
extravagant and vibrant colors to the minimum.

The Chinese artists follow six principles of painting, which was actually set up in the 5th century. The six
principles are:

1. “Spirit Resonance“, or vitality. It refers to the flow of energy that encompasses theme, work, and
artist. Xie He, an ancient Chinese artist, said that without Spirit Resonance, there was no need to look
further.
2. “Bone Method“, or the way of using the brush. This refers not only to texture and brush stroke, but
also to the close link between handwriting and personality. In his day, the art of calligraphy was
inseparable from painting.
3. “Correspondence to the Object“, or the depicting of form, which would include shape and line.
4. “Suitability to Type“, or the application of color, including layers, value and tone.
5. “Division and Planning“, or placing and arrangement. It corresponds to composition, space and
depth.
 6. “Transmission by Copying“, or the copying of models, not only from life but also the works of
antiquity.

Today, Chinese artists have started experimenting with new themes and colors by breaking out of the tradition.
These Chinese artists are influenced by western techniques. They are ready to try their luck from outside the
box of tradition.

Japanese Painting Style

A beautiful Japanese painting

Japanese art can mesmerize you in many ways. If you look at it from the outside, its charm, simplicity and
fluency can greatly make you want it. But if you try to learn more about Japanese painting, you will find
yourself in a world of bewilderment. If you are not familiar with Japanese terms, you will find this art not so
easy. Japanese painting takes influences from Chinese, other eastern and western art.

Japanese painting art has its own schools of thought and styles. ‘Suibokuga‘ is one such school of art, where
artists use only black ink for painting. The kind of paintings Japanese artists produced using only black ink
would amaze any world-class artist. This school of art was result of a direct influence from Chinese art and
Buddhism.

‘Kano’ was another school of art that budded in the 15th century. This school was a total conflict with the
existing ‘Suibokuga’ school. In fact, it was a sign of protest against not using vibrant colors in painting. So,
Kano followers used bright and vibrant colors in their paintings. This school of arts has many branches today
including the prominent ‘Ukiyo-e’.
The ‘Shijo’ school of art was a derivative from the old ‘Kano’ school. Use of common people as subject and
portraying their emotions was characteristic of this school of art. ‘Shijo’ school of art produced more realistic
and sometimes cynical paintings.

In 19th century Japan, a new form of art painting came up called ‘Nanga’. You can identify this school of art by
the use of natural scenes and subjects like landscapes, flowers and even cultural influences.

The Indian Style

A Rajput Painting by Nihâl Chand

Being extremely diverse in culture, you can expect Indian painting tradition to be diverse as well. Indian
painting is mostly a direct result of traditions and changing life styles over the years. You would even find
Indian rock paintings dating back to as early as 5500 BC. The caves of Ajanta and Ellora are famous for its
mural paintings.

During the reign of Mughal empire, Indian painting tradition took a new turn. A new form of painting
called Mughal painting came up. ‘Hamzanama’ is one of the first and most famous Mughal paintings known
today. Rulers of that time, Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan were all keen in promoting the art of painting.
However, Aurangzeb showed little interest in arts and this probably led to downfall of art painting afterwards.

Next major era of painting started during the Rajput Empire and is called Rajput Paintings. The artists
preferred creation of miniatures, but the subjects of the paintings were diverse. You would find paintings
illustrating events from great Indian epics, landscapes and human life. Rajput Paintings are famous for its rich
use of colors. An interesting fact about the colors used for these paintings is that some of the colors used were
made from precious stones, silver and even gold! It took weeks to prepare the colors needed for these
paintings.
 Mysore Painting by Shobana Udayasankar

Mysore paintings are famous for the level of detailing given to the
subjects and for the use of gentle colors. Like any other classical South
Indian painting, Gods and scenes from Hindu mythologies found its place
reserved in Mysore paintings.

The creation of a perfect Mysore Painting has many stages. It starts with a rough sketch of the image. The base
on which this sketch is made is just a paper pasted on a wooden board. First the throne or anything of that
importance are painted. Even gold foils were used for a better output. Then, watercolor is used to complete the
painting, but only gentle tones.

A beautiful Tanjore painting

Tanjore painting is perhaps the most important and old classical painting of south India. Use of rich colors,
attention given to every minute detail and, most importantly, elegance, are some specialties of Tanjore
paintings. The artists used precious stones and threads to make paintings look better. Dyes were used for
giving color to the paintings.

When it comes to modern times, there is only one prevailing style in Indian art painting. That has to be the
Bengal School style of painting.
Artists like Abanindranath Tagore promoted this painting style in spite of many controversies following this
new thought. However, artists were always looking to break free of these traditions. The modern Indian
painting is a result of struggle by Indian painters to break the shackles. Artists like F.N. Souza, M.F. Hussain,
S.H. Raza etc are the people who started Indian modernist approach in art painting.

https://www.invaluable.com/blog/art-history-timeline/ for time line

https://www.slideshare.net/ap.euro.outlines/art-movements-throughout-european-history

Prehistoric Art (~40,000–4,000 B.C.)

The origins of art history can be traced back to the Prehistoric era, before written
records were kept. The earliest artifacts come from the Paleolithic era, or the Old Stone
Age, in the form of rock carvings, engravings, pictorial imagery, sculptures, and stone
arrangements.

Art from this period relied on the use of natural pigments and stone carvings to create
representations of objects, animals, and rituals that governed a civilization’s existence.
One of the most famous examples is that of the Paleolithic cave paintings found in the
complex caves of Lascaux in France. Though discovered in 1940, they’re estimated to
be up to 20,000 years old and depict large animals and vegetation from the area.

Ancient Art (4,000 B.C.–A.D. 400)

Unknown, Code of Hammurabi, circa 1792 and circa 1750 B.C. Image via Wikimedia Commons.
Ancient art was produced by advanced civilizations, which in this case refers to those
with an established written language. These civilizations included
Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and those of the Americas.
The medium of a work of art from this period varies depending on the civilization that
produced it, but most art served similar purposes: to tell stories, decorate utilitarian
objects like bowls and weapons, display religious and symbolic imagery, and
demonstrate social status. Many works depict stories of rulers, gods, and goddesses.

One of the most famous works from ancient Mesopotamia is the Code of Hammurabi.
Created around 1792 B.C., the piece bears a Babylonian set of laws carved in stone,
adorned by an image of King Hammurabi—the sixth King of Babylonia—and the
Mesopotamian god, Shabash.

Medieval Art (500–1400)

 Simone Martini. Sold for $4,114,500 via Sotheby’s (January 2012).
The Middle Ages, often referred to as the “Dark Ages,” marked a period of economic
and cultural deterioration following the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 B.C. Much of the
artwork produced in the early years of the period reflects that darkness, characterized
by grotesque imagery and brutal scenery. Art produced during this time was centered
around the Church. As the first millennium passed, more sophisticated and elaborately
decorated churches emerged; windows and silhouettes were adorned with biblical
subjects and scenes from classical mythology.

This period was also responsible for the emergence of the illuminated
manuscript and Gothic architecture style. Definitive examples of influential art from this
period include the catacombs in Rome, Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, the Lindisfarne Gospels,
one of the best-known examples of the illuminated manuscript, and Notre Dame, a
Parisian cathedral and prominent example of Gothic architecture.

Renaissance Art (1400–1600)

 Raffaello Sanzio da Urbin, The School of Athens, 1511. Image via Wikimedia Commons.
This style of painting, sculpture, and decorative art was characterized by a focus on
nature and individualism, the thought of man as independent and self-reliant. Though
these ideals were present in the late Medieval period, they flourished in the 15th and
16th centuries, paralleling social and economic changes like secularization.
The Renaissance reached its height in Florence, Italy, due in large part to the Medici, a
wealthy merchant family who adamantly supported the arts and humanism, a variety of
beliefs and philosophies that places emphasis on the human realm. Italian designer
Filippo Brunelleschi and sculptor Donatello were key innovators during this period.
The High Renaissance, which lasted from 1490 to 1527, produced influential artists
such as da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael, each of whom brought creative power
and spearheaded ideals of emotional expression. Artwork throughout the Renaissance
was characterized by realism, attention to detail, and precise study of human anatomy.
Artists used linear perspective and created depth through intense lighting and shading.
Art began to change stylistically shortly after the High Renaissance, when clashes
between the Christian faith and humanism gave way to Mannerism.

Mannerism (1527–1580)
 Follower of Giorgio Vasari, The Holy Family, 17th century. Offered for €6,000 – 8,000
via Artcurial (May 2010).
Mannerist artists emerged from the ideals of Michelangelo, Raphael, and other Late
Renaissance artists, but their focus on style and technique outweighed the meaning of
the subject matter. Often, figures had graceful, elongated limbs, small heads, stylized
features and exaggerated details. This yielded more complex, stylized compositions
rather than relying on the classical ideals of harmonious composition and linear
perspective used by their Renaissance predecessors.

Some of the most celebrated Mannerist artists include Giorgio Vasari, Francesco
Salviati, Domenico Beccafumi, and Bronzino, who is widely considered to be the most
important Mannerist painter in Florence during his time.

Baroque (1600–1750)
 Caravaggio, The Calling of Saint Matthew, circa 1599-1600. Image via Wikimedia Commons.
The Baroque period that followed Mannerism yielded ornate, over-the-top visual arts
and architecture. It was characterized by grandeur and richness, punctuated by an
interest in broadening human intellect and global discovery. Baroque artists were
stylistically complex.
Baroque paintings were characterized by drama, as seen in the iconic works of Italian
painter Caravaggio and Dutch painter Rembrandt. Painters used an intense contrast
between light and dark and had energetic compositions matched by rich color palettes.

Rococo (1699–1780)
 Antoine Watteau, The Embarkation for Cythera 1717. Image via Wikimedia Commons.
Rococo originated in Paris, encompassing decorative art, painting, architecture, and
sculpture. The aesthetic offered a softer style of decorative art compared to Baroque’s
exuberance. Rococo is characterized by lightness and elegance, focusing on the use of
natural forms, asymmetrical design, and subtle colors.

Painters like Antoine Watteau and Francois Boucher used lighthearted treatments, rich
brushwork, and fresh colors. The Rococo style also easily translated to silver, porcelain,
and French furniture. Many chairs and armoires featured curving forms, floral designs,
and an expressive use of gilt.

Neoclassicism (1750–1850)
 Jacques-Louis David, Napoleon Crossing the Alps, 1801. Image via Wikimedia Commons.
As its name suggests, the Neoclassical period drew upon elements from classical
antiquity. Archaeological ruins of ancient civilizations in Athens and Naples that were
discovered at the time reignited a passion for all things past, and artists strove to
recreate the great works of ancient art. This translated to a renewed interest in classical
ideals of harmony, simplicity, and proportion.

Neoclassical artists were influenced by classical elements; in particular, a focus on

idealism. Inevitably, they also included modern, historically relevant depictions in their
works. For example, Italian sculptor Antonio Canova drew upon classical elements in
his marble sculptures, but avoided the cold artificiality that was represented in many of
these early creations.

Romanticism (1780–1850)
 William Blake, The Descent of Man into the Vale of Death. Sold for $225,000
via Sotheby’s (January 2016).
Romanticism embodies a broad range of disciplines, from painting to music to literature.
The ideals present in each of these art forms reject order, harmony, and rationality,
which were embraced in both classical art and Neoclassicism. Instead, Romantic artists
emphasized the individual and imagination. Another defining Romantic ideal was an
appreciation for nature, with many turning to plein air painting, which brought artists out
of dark interiors and enabled them to paint outside. Artists also focused on passion,
emotion, and sensation over intellect and reason.
Prominent Romantic painters include Henry Fuseli, who created strange, macabre
paintings that explored the dark recesses of human psychology, and William Blake,
whose mysterious poems and images conveyed mystical visions and his
disappointment in societal constraints.

Realism (1848–1900)
 Jean-François Millet, The Gleaners, 1857. Image via Wikimedia Commons.
Arguably the first modern art movement, Realism, began in France in the 1840s.
Realism was a result of multiple events: the anti-Romantic movement in Germany, the
rise of journalism, and the advent of photography. Each inspired new interest in
accurately capturing everyday life. This attention to accuracy is evident in art produced
during the movement, which featured detailed, life-like depictions of subject matter.

One of the most influential leaders of the Realist movement is Gustave Courbet, a
French artist committed to painting only what he could physically see.

Art Nouveau (1890–1910)

 Alphonse Mucha, Princess Hyazinthe, 1911. Image via Wikimedia Commons.
Art Nouveau, which translates to “New Art,” attempted to create an entirely authentic
movement free from any imitation of styles that preceded it. This movement heavily
influenced applied arts, graphics, and illustration. It focused on the natural world,
characterized by long, sinuous lines and curves.
Influential Art Nouveau artists worked in a variety of media, including architecture,
graphic and interior design, jewelry-making, and painting. Czechoslovakian graphic
designer Alphonse Mucha is best-known for his theatrical posters of French actress
Sarah Bernhardt. Spanish architect and sculptor Antoni Gaudi went beyond focusing on
lines to create curving, brightly-colored constructions like that of the Basilica de la
Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

Impressionism (1865–1885)
 Claude Monet, Impression, Sunrise, 1872. Image via Wikimedia Commons.
Impressionist painters sought to capture the immediate impression of a particular
moment. This was characterized by short, quick brushstrokes and an unfinished,
sketch-like feel. Impressionist artists used modern life as their subject matter, painting
situations like dance halls and sailboat regattas rather than historical and mythological
events.
Claude Monet, a French artist who spearheaded the idea of expressing one’s
perceptions before nature, is virtually synonymous with the Impressionist movement.
His notable works include The Water Lily Pond (1899), Woman with a Parasol (1875),
and Impression, Sunrise (1872), from which the name of the movement itself is derived.

Post-Impressionism (1885–1910)
 George Seurat, A Sunday on the Island of La Grande Jatte, 1884. Image via Wikimedia
Commons.
Post-Impressionist painters worked independently rather than as a group, but each
influential Post-Impressionist painter had similar ideals. They concentrated on
subjective visions and symbolic, personal meanings rather than observations of the
outside world. This was often achieved through abstract forms.

Post-Impressionist painters include Georges Seurat, noted for his pointillism technique
that used small, distinct dots to form an image. Vincent van Gogh is also considered a
Post-Impressionist painter, searching for personal expression through his art, often
through rugged brushstrokes and dark tones.

Fauvism (1900–1935)
 Henri Matisse, Woman With a Hat, 1905. Image via Wikimedia Commons.
Led by Henri Matisse, Fauvism built upon examples from Vincent van Gogh and George
Seurat. As the first avant-garde, 20th-century movement, this style was characterized
by expressive use of intense color, line, and brushwork, a bold sense of surface design,
and flat composition.
As seen in many of the works of Matisse himself, the separation of color from its
descriptive, representational purpose was one of the core elements that shaped this
movement. Fauvism was an important precursor of Cubism and Expressionism.

Expressionism (1905–1920)
 Edvard Munch, The Dance of Life, 1899. Image via Wikimedia Commons.
Expressionism emerged as a response to increasingly conflicted world views and the
loss of spirituality. Expressionist art sought to draw from within the artist, using a
distortion of form and strong colors to display anxieties and raw emotions. Expressionist
painters, in a quest for authenticity, looked for inspiration beyond that of Western art
and frequented ethnographic museums to revisit native folk traditions and tribal art.
The roots of Expressionism can be traced to Vincent van Gogh, Edvard Munch,
and James Ensor. Prominent groups including Die Brücke (The Bridge) and Der Blaue
Reiter (The Blue Rider) formed so artists could publish works and express their ideals
collectively.

Cubism (1907–1914)
 Violin and Palette, Georges Braque, 1909. Image via Wikimedia Commons.
Cubism was established by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, who rejected the
concept that art should copy nature. They moved away from traditional techniques and
perspectives; instead, they created radically fragmented objects through abstraction.
Many Cubist painters’ works are marked by flat, two-dimensional surfaces, geometric
forms or “cubes” of objects, and multiple vantage points. Often, their subjects weren’t
even discernible.

Surrealism (1916–1950)
 René Magritte, The Son of Man, 1964. Image via Wikipedia.
Surrealism emerged from the Dada art movement in 1916, showcasing works of art that
defied reason. Surrealists denounced the rationalist mindset. They blamed this thought
process on events like World War I and believed it to repress imaginative thoughts.
Surrealists were influenced by Karl Marx and theories developed by Sigmund Freud,
who explored psychoanalysis and the power of imagination.
Influential Surrealist artists like Salvador Dalí tapped into the unconscious mind to
depict revelations found on the street and in everyday life. Dalí’s paintings in particular
pair vivid and bizarre dreams with historical accuracy.

Abstract Expressionism (1940s–1950s)

Shaped by the legacy of Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism emerged in New York after
WWII. It’s often referred to as the New York School or action painting. These painters
and abstract sculptors broke away from what was considered conventional, and instead
used spontaneity and improvisation to create abstract works of art. This included
colossally-scaled works whose size could no longer be accommodated by an easel.
Instead, canvases would be placed directly upon the floor.
Celebrated Abstract Expressionist painters include Jackson Pollock, known for his
unique style of drip painting, and Mark Rothko, whose paintings employed large blocks
of color to convey a sense of spirituality.
Op Art (1950s–1960s)
Heightened by advances in science and technology as well as an interest in optical
effects and illusions, the Op art (short for “optical” art) movement launched with Le
Mouvement, a group exhibition at Galerie Denise Rene in 1955. Artists active in this style
used shapes, colors, and patterns to create images that appeared to be moving or
blurring, often produced in black and white for maximum contrast. These abstract
patterns were meant to both confuse and excite the eye.
English artist Bridget Riley is one of the most prominent Op Art practitioners. Her 1964
artwork Blaze features zigzag black and white lines that create the illusion of a circular
decent.

Pop Art (1950s–1960s)

Andy Warhol. Sold for $17,327,500 via Sotheby’s (May 1998).

Pop art is one of the most recognizable artistic developments of the 20th century. The
movement transitioned away from methods used in Abstract Expressionism, and
instead used everyday, mundane objects to create innovative works of art that
challenged consumerism and mass media. This introduction to identifiable imagery was
a shift from the direction of modernism.
Pop artists like Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein sought to establish the idea that art
can draw from any source and there is no hierarchy of culture to disrupt that. Perhaps
the most famous pop culture work of art is Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans production.

Arte Povera (1960s)

Translating literally to “poor art,” Arte Povera challenged modernist, contemporary
systems by infusing commonplace materials into creations. Artists used soil, rocks,
paper, rope, and other earthen elements to evoke a pre-industrial sentiment. As a
result, many of the notable works during this movement are sculptural.

Italian artist Mario Merz, in conjunction with other Italian artists such as Giovanni
Anselmo and Alighiero Boetti, created anti-elitist works by drawing upon materials from
everyday life. His 1968 Giap’s Igloo, one of what would soon become his signature
series of igloos, focused on his occupations with the necessities of life: shelter, warmth,
and food.

Minimalism (1960s–1970s)
The Minimalist movement emerged in New York as a group of younger artists began to
question the overly expressive works of Abstract Expressionist artists. Minimalist
art instead focused on anonymity, calling attention to the materiality of works. Artists
urged viewers to focus on precisely what was in front of them, rather than draw parallels
to outside realities and emotive thoughts through the use of purified forms, order,
simplicity, and harmony.
American artist Frank Stella was of the earliest adopters of Minimalism, producing
nonrepresentational paintings, as seen in his Black Paintings completed between 1958
and 1960. Each features a pattern of rectilinear stripes of uniform width printed in
metallic black ink.

Conceptual Art (1960s–1970s)

Conceptual art completely rejected previous art movements, and artists prized ideas
over visual components, creating art in the from of performances, ephemera, and other
forms. Polish performance artist Ewa Partum’s Active Poetry consisted of her scattering
single alphabet letters across various landscapes. American artist Joseph Kosuth
explored the production and role of language within art, as seen in his 1965, One and
Three Chairs. In it, he represents one chair in three different ways to represent different
meanings of the same object. Because this type of art focused on ideas and concepts,
there was no distinct style or form.

Contemporary Art (1970–present)

The 1970s marked the beginning of contemporary art, which extends through present
day. This period is dominated by various schools and smaller movements that emerged.
 Postmodernism: In reaction against modernism, artists created works that reflected
skepticism, irony, and philosophical critiques.
 Feminist art: This movement arose in an attempt to transform stereotypes and break
the model of a male-dominated art history.
 Neo Expressionism: Artists sought to revive original aspects of Expressionism and
create highly textural, expressive, large works.
 Street art: Artists such as Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Barry McGee, Banksy,
and more created graffiti-like art on surfaces in public places like sidewalks,
buildings, and overpasses.
 The Pictures Generation: Artists Cindy Sherman, Louise Lawler, Gary Simmons, and
others who were influenced by Conceptual and Pop art experimented with
recognizable imagery to explore images shaped our perceptions of the world.
 Appropriation art: This movement focused on the use of images in art with little
transformation from their original form.
 Young British Artists (YBA): This group of London artists were notorious for their
willingness to shock audiences through their imagery, and a willingness to push
beyond limits of decency. They’re also known for their zestful, entrepreneurial spirit.
 Digital art: The advent of the camera lent way to this artistic practice that allowed
artists to use the infusion of art and technology to create with mediums like
computers, audio and visual software, sound, and pixels.