Art Movements and

Styles
Modern Art

Impressionism
The history of modern art began in Paris (1800s)
with Impressionism. It began with a rigid and
formal style of painting.
The impressionist painters often painted outside
and studied the effect of light on objects.
Impressionist artist usually studied landscapes
and scenes from the daily life style.
Known impressionism artist are:
Edouard Manet, Edgar Degas
and Claude Monet

Fauvism
The word Fauvism means wild animals in
French. This modern art style was wild
with strong and vivid colors. Fauvism used
simplified designs in combination with
pure colors. The first exhibition by
Fauvist artist was in the early 1900s.
Known Fauve artist: Henri Matisse,
Adrian Derain, and Kees van Dongen.
A piece by Henri Matisse

Art Nouveau
Meaning new art is known for its
decorative style and natural forms. Art
Nouveau was an international movement
and was popular from about 1880-1910. It
covered all forms of art including
architecture, furniture, jewelry, glass and
illustration.
The subway entrances
in Paris
Glass image

Art Deco
Art Deco was mostly a design style
popular in the 1920-1930s. It could
be considered a form of Art Nouveau.
Art Deco was dominant in fashion,
furniture, jewelry,
printmaking and
interior decoration.
The Chrysler building in New
York(1930) is an example of Art
Deco architecture.

Cubism
Cubism was more restricted to painting and
sculpture. Cubism was initiated by Pablo
Picasso and Georges Braques before WW1.
Geometrical forms are favored in
cubism and several aspects of
one subject are shown
simultaneously. Cubism
paved the way for
abstract art.

Surrealism
Surrealism is another modern art movement in
the 20th century. Its philosophical "father" was
Andre Breton, a French poet and writer.
Surrealism emphasizes the unconscious, the
importance of dreams and the psychological
aspect in arts. Surrealism became an important
movement in the fine arts, literature and in films.
Known artist: Salvador Dali

Abstract Art
Painter, Wassily Kandinsky, is said to
be the father of abstract art.
Abstract art includes
a lot of cubism and is
mainly used in paintings.

Pop Art
Pop art meaning popular art was a movement to
bring back art in the daily life of people. It was a
reaction AGAINST abstract painting. The attitude
of the Pop Art movement was Andy Warhol's use
of serigraphy, a photo-realistic, mass-production
technique of printmaking. Pop art
intruded into the media and
advertising- mainly an American
and British art movement. (1960s)

Op Art
After Pop art came Op art or optical art. It
used reduced geometrical forms with black
and white contrast or bold colors. In the
70s Op art made its way into fashion. Op
art did not become a mass-movement of
modern art like Pop art.

Credits
Power point by:
Amanda Pfingston
Photoshop image:
First page- background