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Period: to
Journey through Modern Art
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IMPRESSIONISM
The first major avante-garde art movement. The name was invented in 1874 b a hostile critic, inspired by Monet's painting 'Impressionism: Sun Rise'. The Impressionist's aim was to capture the passing moment by means of a sketch technique, strong colour and a commitment to outoor, on the spot (plein-air) painting.
SOME ARTISTS: Monet, Degas, Renoir -
POINTALISM
The technique of applying small, regular dabs of umixed colour on to the picture surface, relying on scientific theories (such as precise combination of complementary colours. Pioneered by Seurat who used the term "divisionism". Movement mainly occured in France.
SOME ARTISTS: Seurat, Signac, Cross -
POST-IMPRESSIONISM
A blanket term refering to art that both learnt from and rejected certain Impressionist principles.
SOME ARTISTS: Cezanne, Gaguin, Seurat, van Gogh -
SYMBOLISM
A literary and artistic movement which, partly in reaction to Realism and Impressionism, emphasixed the world of the imagination, of ideas, dreams and emotions. In some respects, Symbolism was a predecessor of both Expressionism and Surrealism.
SOME ARTISTS: Munch, Gaugain, Moreau -
EXPRESSIONISM
The artists' main purpose was to express emotions and/or a senseof deeper reality. through vigorous brushstrokes, and distortion or exaggeration of shapes and colours. There were two main groups: Die Bruke (The Bridge) and Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider). van Gogh and Munch were key influences.
SOME ARTISTS: Kandinsky, Kirchner, Kollwitz, Heckel, Nolde -
FAUVISM
A group of young painters centred around Mattisse whose work was characterised by strong colour and powerful brushstrokes. When the exhibited together in 19005, 'Salon d'Autome' in Paris, they were named "fauves" or wild beasts and caused great controversy. Unlike the German Expressionists Fauvist works tended to be joyful.
SOME ARTISTS: Derain, Matisse, Vlaminck -
CUBISM
A style pioneered by Picasso and Braque which drew attention to the contradiction involved in depicting a 3-D scene on a 2-D surface. Analytical Cubism (1907-12) broke down real objects into differnt parts. Synthetic Cubism (1912-14) built up recognisable images from abstract parts using ready-made materials such as newspaper.
SOME ARTISTS: Picasso, Braque, Delaunay, Leger -
FUTURISM
This movement was founded by the poet Marinetti. It's members rejected the past and instead celebrated the dynamism of th e machine age and city life. They published aggressive manifesto's and , like the Dada artists, staged "happenings' designed to shock. Teir paintings were initially influenced by Pointailism then by Cubism, but put greater emphasis on movement that the Cubist painters.
SOME ARTISTS: Balla, Boccioni, Carra, Severini -
DADA
A movement of irreverent, unbridled protest against the state of western society that led to WW1. Members saw art as decadent and middle class. they staged events designed to shock, and created works out of uncoventional/found objects.
SOME ARTISTS: Duchamp, Ernst -
CONSTRUCTIVISM
A geometric absract art movement. Artists were initially influenced by suprematism, but after the Russiam Revolution they tried to help create a new society by applying geometric design principles to all areas of life. (architecture, furniture, clothes etc.)
SOME ARTISTS: Lissitzky, Rodchenko, Stepanova -
DE STIJL
Founded by Doesberg and Mondrian to promote their use of geometric abstract shapes and primary colours, based on universal harmony. Idea's were extended into architecture, furniture and design as well as painting. There was also a published magazine with the name name about the movement.
SOME ARTISTS; Mondrian, Van Doesburg, Van der Leck. -
BAUHAUS
An influential German Art school which was eventually closed down by the Nazi's. Each student studied art, architecture and design with the ultimate aim of creating a better living environment for everone. Its design principles were based on admiration for geometry and the machine.
SOME ARTISTS: Gropius, Kandinsky, Klee -
SURREALISM
A movement that drew on certain ideas of DADA, and on the wriings of Freud to create and art which was intended to free the viewer as well as the artist by ecploring the world of the unconscious and subconscious mind.
SOME ARTISTS: Dali Miro, Ernst, de Chirico -
SOCIAL REALISM
Art promoted by the Stalinist regime in Russia as a propaganda tool. The artists used a realisticstyle to present an idealised vision of Soviet society and it's leaders. The movement began out of Constructivism and their ideas. Very closely connected with politics.
SOME ARTISTS: Brodsky, Moor -
ABSTRACT EXPRESSIONISM
Artists produced large scale dramatic paintings. 2 strands, Action painting and Colour-field painting. Brough America/New York to a focus of the Artworld.
SOME ARTIST: Pollock, de Kooning, Motherwell, Rothko -
POP ART
The apparent celebration of western consumerism after the austerity and rationing of the war years. The artists' work evokes the brash, colourful world of advertising, comic strips and popular entertainment.
SOME ARTISTS: Warhol, Lichtenstein, Oldernburg, Rosengquist -
PERFORMANCE ART
This is related to theatre, but usually has no plot or drama. Oftern makes a politcal or social statement. Is documented by photographs.
SOME ARTISTS: Arnatt, Brisley,Beuys. -
LAND ART
Art that involves the artist going out into nature and making art. The only record of the work is photographic, often combined with maps, text etc. Land artists can also exhibit natural found objects within a gallery setting.
SOME ARTISTS: Goldsworthy, Christo -
MINIMALISM
An intellectual sort of art which seems to consist of very little, so that the viewer is forced to scrutinize the formal properties of what is actually there very carefully. The work is usually geometric and involves repetition. Malevich pioneered this kind of art.
SOME ARTISTS: Malevich, Andre, Morris -
NEO EXPRESSIONISM
Widespread and much-publicised characteristic of 1980's art. Pay's homage to Expressionism.
SOME ARTISTS: Baselitz, Kiefer, Penck
