Art movement

Art movement refers to a tendency or style in art with a specific common philosophy or goal, followed by a group of artists during a restricted period of time, usually a few months, years or decades. Art movements were especially important in modern art, where each consecutive movement was considered as a new avant-garde.

Definition and Overview

An art movement is not merely a style; it encompasses the philosophy, the tools, and the political and social context of a certain period of time. Movements in art are often reactions against the previous art forms or a way to express ideologies of a certain time period. Movements can be national or international, broad or specific.

Historical Context

The concept of art movements became most prominent with the advent of Modern Art in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This period saw rapid changes in art styles, each reacting to the last, from Impressionism to Post-Impressionism, Fauvism, Cubism, Dadaism, Surrealism, and many others. Each movement reflected the innovations, thinking, and sometimes the political upheavals of the time.

Major Art Movements

• Impressionism: Originating in France in the 1870s and 1880s, Impressionism was characterized by a focus on light and its changing qualities, often with an emphasis on the experience of the artist.
• Cubism: Developed by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque in the early 20th century, Cubism broke objects into pieces and reassembled them in abstract forms, showing different viewpoints simultaneously.
• Surrealism: Emerging in the 1920s, Surrealism was influenced by the theories of Sigmund Freud and focused on the dream world and the unconscious.
• Abstract Expressionism: Originating in the 1940s and 1950s in New York City, Abstract Expressionism was characterized by large, abstract paintings that expressed personal or collective emotions and ideas.

Impact on Society

Art movements have often reflected or influenced changes in society. For example, the Dada movement was a protest against the barbarism of World War I. Similarly, the Surrealism movement delved into the unconscious mind, reflecting a growing interest in psychology and the inner workings of the mind.

Contemporary Movements

In the contemporary era, art movements have become less distinct, with artists drawing on a variety of sources and styles. However, movements such as Minimalism, Conceptual Art, and Digital Art have made significant impacts.

See Also

• Modern Art
• Contemporary Art
• Art History