When we visit a gallery or museum, we often encounter modern art. But what does modern art actually mean? Modern art is a term used to describe a wide range of artistic styles and movements that emerged from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century. It's important to note that "modern art" is a historical classification and should not be confused with "contemporary art".
(What is Modern Art? A Complete Definition and Guide - dans le gris)

Vincent van Gogh, The Starry Night, 1889.
(What is Modern Art? A Complete Definition and Guide - dans le gris)

What is Modern Art?

(What is Modern Art? A Complete Definition and Guide - dans le gris)
Modern art is commonly defined as artworks produced from the 1860s to the 1970s, characterized by a diverse array of styles and movements that marked a dramatic shift from traditional artistic conventions. The emergence of modernism and modern art is closely linked to the profound societal changes driven by the Industrial Revolution, which transformed nearly every facet of daily life.

During this era, modern artists responded to the rapid technological advancements, industrial progress, and urban expansion. They explored innovative methods of perceiving and interpreting the world, leading to new perspectives on the nature and purpose of art. This period was marked by a fervent pursuit of novel artistic expressions and ideas, reflecting the dynamic and evolving nature of contemporary life.
(What is Modern Art? A Complete Definition and Guide - dans le gris)

(What is Modern Art? A Complete Definition and Guide - dans le gris)
The term "modern art" is typically associated with artwork in which the traditions of the past are discarded in the spirit of experimentation. A shift away from the narrative, which was a characteristic of traditional arts, toward abstraction is a defining feature of much modern art. Modern art challenges the notion that art must realistically depict the world and instead experiments with the expressive use of color, new techniques, and non-traditional materials, which are now considered the characteristics of modern Art.

Modern art movement has lasted longer than any art movement since the Renaissance. The beginnings of modern painting cannot be clearly demarcated, but there is general agreement that it started in 19th-century France. From about the 1890s on, a succession of varied movements and styles arose that are the core of modern art and that represent one of the high points of Western visual culture.
(What is Modern Art? A Complete Definition and Guide - dans le gris)

The Major Modern Art Movements

(What is Modern Art? A Complete Definition and Guide - dans le gris)

Sophie Taeuber-Arp, Composition of Circles and Overlapping Angles, 1930

(What is Modern Art? A Complete Definition and Guide - dans le gris)
Impressionism (1870-1880)

Impressionism is often regarded as the catalyst for modern art, challenging the rigid conventions and realistic portrayals of academic painting. This influential artistic movement emerged in the early 1860s, primarily through the efforts of Claude Monet and other Paris-based artists.

Impressionism revolutionized the art world by focusing on the artist’s subjective perception of the scene rather than precise, realistic detail. Impressionist painters captured fleeting moments and the effects of light and color, transforming their observations into vibrant, poetic, and abbreviated images. This approach marked a significant departure from traditional artistic practices and laid the foundation for the development of modern art.

• Learn more by reading Impressionism: The Art of Capturing Fleeting Moments
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Fauvism (1905-1907)

Fauvism was an avant-garde modern art movement that emerged in Paris, France, around 1905 and lasted until approximately 1910. The term "Fauvism" refers to the work produced by a group of artists, including Henri Matisse and André Derain, known for their use of vibrant colors and bold brushwork.

This movement significantly impacted modern art with its distinctive style. Fauvist artists emphasized individual perception in their artwork, often incorporating recognizable forms. As one of the earliest avant-garde modernist movements of the twentieth century, Fauvism served as a crucial transitional phase towards abstraction. Many artists who embraced Fauvist principles used this approach as a stepping stone for future stylistic developments.
(What is Modern Art? A Complete Definition and Guide - dans le gris)
Expressionism (1905-1907)

By the end of the First World War, Expressionism emerged as a movement reflecting a pessimistic and somber view of the world. Characterized by heavy brushstrokes, bold colors, and thick paint, Expressionist artworks often feature distorted and haunting images that prioritize emotional experience over physical reality.

Expressionism is known for its highly subjective, personal, and spontaneous self-expression. These qualities are common among a wide range of modern artists and art movements, influencing many to explore emotional depth and psychological intensity in their work.
(What is Modern Art? A Complete Definition and Guide - dans le gris)
Cubism (1908-1914)

Cubism was a revolutionary approach to representing reality, invented around 1907-08 by artists Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. They unified different views of subjects, often objects or figures, within the same picture, resulting in paintings that appear fragmented and abstracted. Like other modern art movements, Cubism emphasized a subjective approach to creation. Characterized by deconstructed and fractured forms, Cubism marked a shift in modern art towards abstraction.
(What is Modern Art? A Complete Definition and Guide - dans le gris)
Futurism (1909-1944)

Futurism was an influential Italian art movement of the early 20th century, dedicated to capturing the dynamism and energy of the modern world. Futurist artists engaged with the latest advancements in science, philosophy, aviation, and cinematography to inform their work. They incorporated elements of Neo-Impressionism and Cubism to create compositions that conveyed the dynamic essence of contemporary life.

Unlike some modern art movements, such as Impressionism and Pointillism, Futurism did not adhere to a single, distinctive style. Despite this, it played a significant role in shaping various modern art movements throughout the 20th century and left a lasting impact on the development of graphic design.
(What is Modern Art? A Complete Definition and Guide - dans le gris)
Dadaism (1916-1924)

Dada, also known as Dadaism, was a groundbreaking avant-garde movement that transformed art and introduced what we now recognize as modern art. Emerging during the First World War in Zurich, Dada was a radical and critical response to the war's brutality.

Characterized by its satirical and nonsensical approach, Dada art, poetry, and performances defied traditional visual and literary conventions. Despite its brief existence, lasting only about a decade, Dada profoundly influenced subsequent art movements, including abstract and modern art. The movement's "anti-aesthetic" philosophy continues to resonate across various artistic fields, leaving a lasting impact on contemporary art.

• Learn more by reading Dadaism: The Anti-Art Movement in Modern Art
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Surrealism (1924-1950)

Surrealism is a movement in visual art and literature that flourished in Europe between World Wars I and II. It aimed to revolutionize human experience by balancing a rational vision of life with one that asserted the power of the unconscious and dreams. Surrealism's emphasis on the subconscious, emotional expression, and the challenge to conventional values significantly influenced the development of modern art. The movement's artists sought magic and strange beauty in the unexpected, the uncanny, the disregarded, and the unconventional. At the core of their work was the willingness to challenge imposed values and norms while searching for freedom.

• Learn more by reading Surrealism in Art: From the Unconscious Dream to Artistic Reality
(What is Modern Art? A Complete Definition and Guide - dans le gris)
Pop Art (1950s-1960s)

Pop art, which emerged in the 1950s and thrived in the 1960s in America and Britain, drew inspiration from popular and commercial culture. It began as a revolt against traditional views of art, with young artists feeling that what they learned in art schools and saw in museums didn't reflect their daily lives. Instead, they turned to sources like Hollywood movies, advertising, product packaging, pop music, and comic books for imagery. Pop Art marked the transition from modern art to contemporary art, challenging the established norms of the art world.
(What is Modern Art? A Complete Definition and Guide - dans le gris)

Main Characteristics of Modern Art

Modern art is characterized by a spirit of innovation and experimentation, as artists sought to break free from traditional modes of expression and explore new forms of artistic communication. Although many different styles are encompassed by the term, there are certain underlying principles that define modern art. Below, we would like to introduce you the main characteristics of modern art to help you better understand modern art.
(What is Modern Art? A Complete Definition and Guide - dans le gris)

Pablo Picasso, Atelier de la modiste, 1926
(What is Modern Art? A Complete Definition and Guide - dans le gris)

1. Rejection of Tradition

A rejection of history and conservative values, such as the realistic depiction of subjects, was a defining feature of the modern art movement. Modern artists aimed to break away from the constraints of traditional artistic conventions and create work that challenged established norms and preconceptions. They sought to innovate, experiment, and redefine the boundaries of art itself.

One notable aspect of this rejection of tradition was the embrace of abstraction. Many modern artists moved away from faithful representation of the physical world and turned to abstraction to explore the fundamental elements of art, such as color, form, and shape. This marked a significant departure from the representational art of the past, as they sought to convey emotions and ideas through non-representational means.
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2. Favor Abstraction

As mentioned earlier, modern art often departed from representational or realistic depictions of the world and instead placed a strong emphasis on abstract forms and shapes. Furthermore, there was a notable focus on materials, techniques, and processes. With the exception of scattered realist movements, most modern art favored abstraction. This ranged from the geometric deconstructions of Cubists like Braque and Picasso to the lyrical abstraction of artists such as Ronnie Landfield and Dan Christensen.

Another reason why modern artists tended to favor abstraction is that the modern era witnessed significant technological and scientific advancements. Abstraction was influenced by these developments, including the study of the atom, the theory of relativity, and the advent of photography. Modern artists were drawn to the idea of deconstructing and reassembling forms and shapes in novel ways.
(What is Modern Art? A Complete Definition and Guide - dans le gris)
• Further Reading: What is Abstract Art? Exploring the Birth and Pioneers of Abstract Art
(What is Modern Art? A Complete Definition and Guide - dans le gris)
3. Vibrant Colors and Bold Brushstrokes

Most modern artists incorporated vivid and expressive use of color into their work. The movements that made the most extensive use of this technique were Fauvism and Expressionism. Artists practicing within these genres tended to exploit color in various ways to emphasize the emotions they were attempting to convey.

The use of color in modern art often reflected the artist's subjective experience and personal interpretation of the world. Expressionist artists, including members of the Die Brücke and Der Blaue Reiter groups, utilized color to convey their inner turmoil, anxiety, and passion, believing that color could directly represent their emotional states.

Moreover, in modern art movements like Cubism and Futurism, modern artists used color to explore the interaction between form and space. The fragmentation of form and the play of color in these styles added depth and complexity to their works.
(What is Modern Art? A Complete Definition and Guide - dans le gris)
4. Experimentation with Form

Modern artists were also characterized by their relentless experimentation with form, pushing the boundaries of traditional artistic conventions to create innovative and groundbreaking works. For instance, Surrealist artists, such as Salvador Dalí and René Magritte, delved into the realm of the subconscious and dreamlike imagery. They experimented with form to create bizarre and fantastical compositions, challenging the viewer to explore the uncanny and the mysterious, often involving distorted, morphing, or metamorphosing forms.

Before the emergence of modern art, the prevailing artistic norms adhered to representational and realistic depictions of the world. Artists primarily focused on capturing the external world faithfully. However, with the advent of the modern era, artists felt the need to break free from these constraints and explore new ways of perceiving and presenting reality.
(What is Modern Art? A Complete Definition and Guide - dans le gris)
5. Art as a Statement

Contrasting with earlier artists who often used painting and sculpture to promote religion, revisit mythology, or celebrate the human form, modern artists frequently employed their work as a means to make statements. Modern art celebrated the individual artist's unique vision and perspective. Artists were encouraged to express their personal experiences, emotions, and viewpoints. In many cases, modern artists drew inspiration from the present day rather than delving into the past. This idea is also reflected in contemporary art.
(What is Modern Art? A Complete Definition and Guide - dans le gris)

Modern Art vs. Contemporary Art: What's the Difference?

(What is Modern Art? A Complete Definition and Guide - dans le gris)

Salvador Dalí is one of the well-known modern artists.
(What is Modern Art? A Complete Definition and Guide - dans le gris)
In art, modern and contemporary forms are largely irreplaceable. People often use the term "modern" for describing some art form of recent times. Actually, this art form is considered contemporary.

Due to the experimental nature and overlapping themes of both modern and contemporary art, the genres are often confused for one another. But actually the answer is really simple, you only have to distinguish with time. Modern art and contemporary art are from two different time periods. Modern art came before contemporary art. Modern art refers to art created from the 1860s up to the 1970s. While modern art is more recent than the Renaissance or classical art periods, it is by no means current. Whereas, contemporary art means art made in the present day. Usually, those still living and creating artworks or those who have only very recently died or retired. Today’s contemporary artists are more experimental with their mediums.

Both modern and contemporary art can be characterized as revolutionary, however, Contemporary art emphasizes innovation and freedom more than modern Art. It is also liberty to experiment with all styles. Contemporary art focuses on societal influence, with society as the major focus, whereas modern art is an embodiment of individuality. Modern artists tend to find the pure idea of art.

• Further Reading: 3 Main Differences Between Modern Art & Contemporary Art
(What is Modern Art? A Complete Definition and Guide - dans le gris)