Modern Art Paintings are always progressing. It’s an ever-changing entity that can influence the emotions of entire nations while remaining open for discussion. More importantly, the progression of art means pushing conventional boundaries and sparking new ways of thinking. Every era of art encompassed some manner of controversy, but it was modern art paintings that really caused traditional views to put up a fight. In the mid-19th century, a series of artists broke out in a rebellion against the principles they were taught. No stone was left unturned as they questioned every aspect of art. From the materials that were used to the atmospheric strokes and colors, the modern artists forced a shift that opened the doors for total exploration.
The Origins of Modern Art
Several examples of rebellious artists can be used to trace the origins of modern art paintings, although an official date cannot be determined. Most people like to use it as a reference to a period between 1860 and the 1970s, but one of the most prominent artists must be Gustave Courbet. He wasn’t just set on finding his own distinct style but sought out something more daring. Instead, he broke the rules of what was considered premium or high-quality art. His piece brought down a surge of negativity from the French, and it was called “Burial at Ornans”, which he worked on between 1849 and 1850, just before the style reached a greater audience. This majestic painting showed the funeral of a common peasant and his open grave, surrounded by dirty farm workers. According to the Academy, only mythical or historical scenes were appropriate subjects for such big paintings, leaving Courbet at the short end of the critique.
Courbet was inspired, joined, and followed by several other artists who didn’t just share the notion of taking modern art paintings to new limits but wanted to actively participate in getting it there. Names like Immanuel Kant, Édouard Manet, and Pablo Picasso were all part of the anti-traditional movement. They gave life to impressionism, abstract works, and styles that placed more focus on how the artist perceived the subjects as opposed to capturing them as perfectly as possible. Realists, romantics, and impressionists would ultimately unify against academic teachings and preferences while establishing an era regarded as modern art.
The Evolutionary Process
As with so many things that are initially discarded as taboo and gradually find their way into domestic life, modern art painters started to gain momentum among the masses. The battle wasn’t about convincing academics but the people. The start of the 20th century saw a more positive attitude towards the ostracized artists. Picasso was gaining popularity thanks to his interpretation of Cubism and Giorgio de Chirico started to lay the foundation for Surrealism. Other styles that would have typically been discarded received renewed attention. These styles included Futurism, Expressionism, and Fauvism. As World War I ended this phase it also opened the door for other anti-art movements. In 1913 America received its first taste of modern art paintings due to European artists who sought safety, but more specifically, an Armory Show that exhibited modern art paintings opened the eyes of Americans.
When World War II ended, there was a dramatic shift. American artists took over the movements of modern paintings and expanded even further. By implementing technology and pop culture, the art world became a sanctuary for everyone who wanted to express themselves, whether through photos, videos, literature, or painting. For a moment between 1970 and 1980, painting took a backseat to all the other mediums that were emerging.
The Impact and Influence of Modern Art Paintings
To put into perspective how modern art paintings influenced the principles of art, consider some of the painters and artworks this era produced. Good names to start with are Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh. They were among the most talented impressionists in the history of art and their decision to use more natural lighting changed a profound factor of painting, namely time. Instead of spending days or even months with a painting, they would finish it as quickly as possible, given their urgency to capture the natural light. Even though their speed came at the expense of detail and proportions, they tapped into another beautiful source. They were genuinely capturing moments in time.
Already mentioned is the work of Picasso and his take on painting nature through Cubism, and just like Monet and van Gogh, he left behind a legacy. Then there was the romantic painter Francisco Goya, who gave the world some of the most thought-provoking works through his “Black” collection. Another name that still constantly comes up in artistic conversations must be that of Edvard Munch and his infamous “The Scream.” Like his fellow painters he had to endure an endless onslaught of negative comments as he perfected his style of expressionism.
The collection of artists who stood fast in the modern era changed every perception about art and what it was supposed to be. Thanks to them, art is directly connected with freedom. Before 1860, painting was only considered valuable if it conformed to academic teachings, but now contemporary artists have no limits. There has been a complete transition from strenuous rules, technique, and regulation to unbound expression, ideas, and execution.
Defining the Modern Art Painting Era
Placing a single date or name on the origins of the significant modern art era can’t be done. But there is no question or doubt about what it was all about. As citizens came into uproar against leaders and laws they didn’t agree with, so did the painters. For most of them, poverty and detriment were the result of their choice to break the artificial rules of art. Their courage to not just question these rules but to act on them has contributed to the freedom the world knows today. Some of those painters would only enjoy admiration and respect long after they were buried, which is why people should never stop appreciating art. It’s not just a picture on a canvas, but probably the only authentic depiction of nature people fail to recognize.
