“Modern Art” can be a confusing term, as it refers to the artwork of many different movements, countries, and time periods. One characteristic that most modern art shares, however, is freedom from tradition, in favor of experimentation and invention. Art Revived has put together a list of some of the key movements in modern art.

Impressionism

Impressionist artists like Claude Monet painted with thick, visible brushstrokes and created paintings that had a rather “unfinished” look. These artists focused upon capturing the effects of light and the passing of time, rather than painting in a realistic and detailed manner.

Claude Monet, Impression Sunrise, 1872.

Cubism

Artists Pablo Picasso and Georges Braques worked together in Paris to invent Cubism. The movement is characterized by intersecting angles, loss of realistic perspective, and simplification of forms. Cubist artists often tried to show many different views of an object at the same time.

Dada and Surrealism

The Dada movement began during World War I, in part as a reaction against the destruction of the war. Its artists, such as Marchel Duchamp, created work that they considered “anti-art.” Dada eventually led to the creation of Surrealism, a movement that focused on dreams, chance, and the unconscious.

Salvador Dali, The Persistence of Time, 1931.

Abstract Expressionism

The Abstract Expressionist movement shifted the center of the art world from Paris to New York City. The movement itself is hard to define, as it’s main artists –including Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, and Mark Rothko – all worked in very different styles. Often, these artists produced work that was very large and conveyed a sense of energy.

Minimalism

The Minimalist movement can be seen as a reaction against Abstract Expressionism. Minimalist artists tried to strip art down to its essential forms. They often worked with industrial materials, neutral colors, and repetition.

Pop Art
Pop artists like Andy Warhol incorporated elements of popular culture, and often advertisements, into their work. They were interested in mass production and consumer culture.

Sol LeWitt, Incomplete Open Cube, 7/18, 1974.