An Overview of Modernist Art

The Modernist art movement came after the 19th Century Art Movement. It covers all the experimental Art sub-genres of the first half of the 20th Century. In Art History the Modernist Movement is a very broad movement which covers a wide variety of sub genres. If these sub-genres can be said to share any common features it is the belief that the world was changing and that Art should reflect this new modernity. As a rule therefore, art from the Modernist period tends to be much more experimental than what had gone before.

There are 14 sub-genres within the Modernist Art movement with many of these crossing over. They are:

Fauvism- from the term 'wild beasts' this genre uses bright and wild colors and simplified scenery.

Primitivism- more of a trend than a distinctive sub-genre where artists looked to primiitve art forms to inspire them.

Expressionism- this was art work that used strong colors and distorted figures. It looked at issues of belonging and alienation

Cubism- This tradition takes normal objects and often presents them in the manner of a still life but it portrays the image from many different viewpoints.

Futurism- a sub-genre that developed in Italy and celebrated the speed and technology of modern life through its use of aggressive lines to convey movement.

Dadaism- was influenced by the First World War. They argued that morality and aesthetics had been destroyed by the war and this is reflected in their anti-sentimental approach to Art.

Suprematism- rejected all the conventional aspects of art in search of spiritual reality

Constructivism- an umbrella term to describe abstract geometric works of art that are constructed from materials or components

Neo-Plasticism- Although there are other artists within this sub-genre it is connected to the work of Mondrian. It includes paintings using primary colors and geometric lines

Surrealism- Art that came straight from the unconscious without being thought about or shaped by reason, morality or aesthetics.

Spatialism- an Italian movement which abandoned the reliance on painting and made radical statements on artistic tradition.

Abstract Expressionism- This originated in New York after WWII. It set out to depict universal emotions

Social Realism- Art which is realist which makes some kind of social comment.

Fauvism:

• Derain
• Matisse
• Rouault

Primitivism:

• Gauguin
• Moore
• Picasso

Medievalism:

• John Everett Millais
• Peter Van Cornelius
• Edward Burne-Jones

Expressionism

• Heckel
• Kandinsky
• Kollwitz

Cubism

• Picasso
• Braque
• Leger

Futurism

• Balla
• Severini
• Carra

Dadism

• Arp
• Duchamp
• Man Ray

Suprematism

• Lissitzky
• Malevich

Constructivism

• Tatlin
• Gabo
• Vantongerloo

Neo-Plasticism

• Mondrian
• Huszar
• Reitveld

Surrealism

• Dali
• Miro
• Kahlo

Spatialism

• Crippa
• Dova
• Fontana

Abstract Expressionism

• Pollock
• Rothko
• Gottlieb

Social Realism

• Goldin
• Bratby
• Whiteread

• London Bridge- Derain
• The Moon and the Earth- Gauguin
• Artillerymen- Kirchner
• The Weeping Woman- Picasso
• Speeding Automobile- Balla
• Fountaine- Duchamp
• Enbankment- Whiteread
• No.19- Rothko
• Proun 19D- Lissitzky
• Tableau 2- Mondrian
• Nature- Fontana
• Rise and Monty on the Lounge Chair- Goldin
• Spatial Construction- Rodchenko