Art Periods And Movements - introduction to the art history of the styles and their characteristics

Art history is shaped by numerous important Art Periods And Movements , about which even art laypersons stumble again and again. Everyone has developed an individual style, artistic currents and forms of aesthetics.

The different Art Periods And Movements reflect on the social, political and cultural changes in their era and the results of creative creation processes.

We would like to give Kunstplaza a helpful overview of the most important eras of art and work out their specific features. Furthermore, we have significant works of art and the relevant artists of the respective age.

Chronological representation of art history in the time beam

We have arranged all Art Periods And Movements for you in a clear timeline. Of 3000 BC BC to the Middle Ages, modern art, classical modernity and contemporary art, which is now produced by artists.

All important Art Periods And Movements explained in 11.5 minutes

Can all the important Art Periods And Movements be explained in less than 12 minutes in an all -round? Phrase threscher made the attempt with his video. See yourself:

Not bad for the beginning for a short explanatory video. For more detailed information, just continue scrolling ...

Ancient art (approx. 3000 BC - 500 AD)

Styles of ancient art at a glance

Early civilizations include Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Minoic, Mycenaean, Classic Greek and Roman art that are part of ancient art . Early European art emerged from the basic artistic methods and styles developed in Greece.

Egyptian art is characterized by detailed murals and huge buildings such as the pyramids. While the Minoian and Mycenaean art impresses with its brilliant frescoes and pottery, Mesopotamian art is known for its reliefs and sculptures. -

The classic Greek art , which is expressed sculptures such as the Discobolos and the Venus of Milo

Ancient - Greece (around 800 BC to 100 BC)

Likewise, Roman art in this Art Periods And Movements missing . It is characterized by her realism and portrait art , as the bust of the emperor Augustus shows.

Ancient - Roman Empire (600 BC to 600 AD)

Early Christianity and Byzantium (300-1453)

Early Christian and Byzantine art formed the foundation for the art of the European Middle Ages and modern times. This era thus shaped the cultural identity of western civilization as well as those of Middle Eastern and African Christianity. Their influences are also visible in the ornamental art of western Islam.

The art of this era was promoted primarily by the recognition of Christianity and the generous donations of Constantine. Independent Christian art gradually developed and often resorted to antique representation. Important centers of this development were Roma, Ravenna, Thessaloniki and Constantinople.

Medieval art (approx. 500 - 1400)

Epochs of the Middle Ages at a glance

Medieval art includes the art of migration period, the Carolingian, the Ottonian, the Romanesque and Gothic art. During this era, the Christian religion was at the center of the artistic creative processes.

Early Middle Ages and Romanesque (750-1250)

Important data and characteristics on Romanesque at a glance:

The art of the migration time T shines with a fusion of ancient and Germanic styles, as it is expressed Merovingers and Langobards

From the era of the Franconian and Saxon monarchs, artistic masterpieces of the Carolingian and Ottonian era, which produced impressive manuscripts and sacred buildings such as the Hildesheim Cathedral or the Palatinate Chapel in Aachen.

The art of Romanesque captivates with its impressive personality, which manifests itself in majestic churches with heavy vaults and round arches.

The Gothic art, on the other hand, impresses with its delicate structures and its urge to impressively demonstrate the height of the cathedrals of Chartres and Notre-Dame in Paris.

Gothic (1130-1500)

Important data and characteristics on Gothic at a glance:

Early modern times

Epochs of the early modern period at a glance

Renaissance (approx. 1420 - 1600)

Important data and characteristics on the Renaissance at a glance:

The Renaissance was an era of artistic rebirth, in which ancient art and culture were rediscovered and reinterpreted. The Renaissance artists such as Leonardo da Vinci , Michelangelo and Raffael sought perfection and humanism in their art and placed particular emphasis on proportion, perspective and anatomical accuracy.

At the time of the Renaissance, painting is characterized by its realistic representations and the introduction of the central perspective, which gives the viewers a spatial depth. In sculpture, the art of Renaissance achieved a high degree of plasticity and dynamics, such as Michelangelos David or the Laokoon group .

The Renaissance architecture was characterized by the rediscovery of classic shapes and symmetry, as is expressed buildings of Brunelleschi and Palladio

Mannerism (approx. 1520 - 1600)

With the newly obtained freedom of humans, the desire arose in the 16th century that each artist should develop their own individual expression.

But this wish quickly leads to exaggerations that did not remain undetected even for masters like Michelangelo. Some of his works were no longer assigned to the Renaissance, but to mannerism.

In mannerism, feelings were deliberately exaggerated, gestures were exaggerated and even the clothing of the people depicted unnecessary. The once light S-curve of the Renaissance becomes an almost unnatural overrun of the body.

Ironically, this style became the first Pan-European style and moved artists from all over Europe to Italy, its place of origin.

Baroque and Rococo (approx. 1600 - 1780)

Important data and characteristics about art:

Baroque art came about in response to the Renaissance and is characterized by its emotionality, drama and abundance. Baroque artists like Caravaggio , Bernini and Rubens used light and shadow to make their works appear plastic and lively.

The baroque painting is characterized by strong contrasts between light and shadow, such as in Caravaggios "the calling of St. Matthew" can be seen. Through artists like Bernini , the baroque sculpture achieved a new dynamic and movement, such as his sculpture "Apollo and Daphne" .

Gian Lorenzo Bernini put new standards in architecture and sculpture and Annibale Carracci and Caravaggio did this in painting. The dramatic light-dark contrasts and the violation of the catering of the impetuous painter star Caravaggio were groundbreaking and stated the tone for realistic representations of martyria and genres scenes of the caravaggists.

Three new genres - genre , landscape and still life - are the result of the golden age of Dutch painting in the 17th century, which was caused by the great wealth of the bourgeoisie. Flame Peter Paul Rubens became known throughout Europe for its paintings, which united immense splendor, energy and emotional effects.

Since baroque art has been used as a means of counter -reformation, saints and courtly orders dominate art in Spain and the non -European colonies.

While the religious art of Siglo d'Oro peaked in the mixture of painting and sculpture, Sevilla, Diego Velázquez, an undisputed court painter and mainly created portraits and mythological stories .

Unlike in Italy, Spain and southern Germany, there was no chaotic baroque style ; In both countries, a classic approach prevailed, which is sometimes referred to a baroque classicism (France) and Palladianism

As the Romanesque church of San Carlo shows all Quattro Fontane, the baroque architecture is characterized by its splendor and the use of curves and ellipses. As a later further development of the Baroque, the rococo characterized by a light, decorative and bizarre appearance.

The exquisite and graceful paintings by several rococo artists, including Watteau , Boucher and Fragonard , mirrors are particularly opposed to the gallant scenes of the French nobility.

The utopian love island of Kythera was characterized Antoine Watteau The genre painting is characterized by atmospheric landscapes, delicate figures, poetic-elegic moods and subtle colors, while in the portrait, both highly representative and intimate portraits were valued equally.

The undisputed main champion of still life was Jean Siméon Chardin , whose influence on impressionism in the 19th century should not be underestimated. The style of the Rococo spread from France via Central Europe and was primarily valued for furniture and interior equipment.

Classicism (approx. 1770 - 1830)

Important data and features of classicism at a glance:

In the 19th century, artists strived with a "backpack" full of ancient art after an atmosphere of "silent simplicity and noble size" (JJ Winkelmann), influenced by the recent discoveries in Pompeii .

Antonio Canova from Italy and Jacques-Louis David from France shaped a whole generation by glorifying heroic masculinity and virtuous women in their works.

In sculpture , painting and especially architecture , parallel compositions, straightforward forms and orientation on the classic canon (measurement conditions) replace the moving, baroque turns.

Late modern times

Epochs of late modern times at a glance

Romance (approx. 1790 - 1830)

Romanticism is more than just a styles, it is a mindset that prefers the mysterious, dark and sublime to the smooth and beautiful. In 1810, the Lukasbund , who tried to unite Dürer and Raffael

, Caspar David Friedrich and William Turner celebrated their first successes as a landscape painter and the mature Francisco de Goya created his darkest works.

As a template for the misunderstood artist and the visionary genius, William Blake , who, like the painters of the Lukasbund, was driven by religious feelings, but developed his highly subjective mythology. Whether medieval fairy tales or Dr. Faustus, breathtaking mountain landscapes or foggy areas - it was always the innermost, the emotional level that drove romantic artists into new creations.

Style pluralism, Biedermeier and Wilhelminian era (1790-1890)

Phenomena of stylistic heterogeneity have always had a major impact on modern art. By this we mean a range of techniques and styles that artists apply to the creation of their works. This variety of techniques enables artists to stand out from their colleagues again and again and to communicate their thoughts and originality in different ways.

Through the questioning of the traditional art canon and creating new creative expressions style pluralism contributed to paving the way for modern art.

A stylistic diversity developed as an artist in the 19th century to reject conventional academies and their rules. While romance raised awareness of nature and people, realism emphasized everyday life.

Impressionism with conventional teachings and focused on playing color and light. These upheavals paved the way for the variety of style, which can still be clearly seen in modern art.

The Biedermeier is a style era that took place between 1815 and 1848 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The name is derived from the poet Gottlieb Biedermaier , which was considered the epitome of the bourgeois bourgeoisie. The art of this time is characterized by its reluctance: mainly landscapes, still lifes and portraits were painted - often with a certain nostalgia for the past.

This style era also had a great influence on furniture and interior design ; Upholstered furniture with floral patterns or embroidered and heavy cabinet walls were made of dark wood. Another license plate was the use of ornaments on porcelain figures or relics.

In general, Biedermeier an expression of a bourgeois self -image in the course of industrialization ; People longed for security in their own house against social changes.

Characterized by a new social perspective, the Wilhelminian era replaced the Biedermeier. The economic upswing caused by industrialization also expressed itself in art: magnificent buildings with rich facades and extravagant interiors were created.

Ornamental gilding and decorations of all kinds were also characteristic of the Wilhelminian

This age mirrors T is the trend that still exists today: the desire to show your own rank through external sublimity.

Historism / salon painting (1850-1914)

In art history, the term historicism a widespread phenomenon in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, in which architects and artists prefer to return to styles from past centuries.

There are various stylistic subspecies, such as neo -Romanesque, neo -Gothic, neo -Renaissance , neobyzantinism and the neo -baroque .

While reform architecture developed as a counter -movement and later resulted in classical modernity, the emerging Art Nouveau around 1900 clearly influenced historicism.

Although the ideas of historicism continued in the following decades, for example in neoclassicalism, socialist classicism or in the architecture of national security, the most formative period of historicism from around 1850 until before the First World War was.

Salon painting , an important style of painting in the 19th century, has its origin in the annual exhibitions in the Salon Carré des Louvre in Paris, also known as Salon de Paris. Introduced by Louis Philippe, these exhibitions were visited exclusively by recognized artists of the authorities who had to do justice to the public taste and in particular that of the Paris leadership.

Adjusted in terms of content and stylistically, historicizing and literary-mythological topics painted, which served as a pretext for the display of a lot of bare skin and used the voyeurism of the upper class. Diverse dramatic scenes were preferred, the painting style was classic and academic.

The works of art of historicist sculpture and salon painting are characterized by an academic and anti-modern orientation. Artists such as Hans Makart, Franz Xaver Winterhalter, Léon Gêrome and Lawrence Alma-Tatemna used their technical finesse to create large-format paintings with historical scenes based on careful historical research.

These works were mainly presented on the Paris Salon and are therefore also referred to as salon paintings.

Realism (1850-1925)

Realism, which is due to the Latin word "res" for thing, is a highly complex term that describes a certain attitude and worldview as well as method of art production.

Gustave Courbet to show his anti -academic and anti -idealistic paintings in Le Réalisme Courbet created huge, large -format paintings that capture the regional landscape and population faithfully and realistically.

Many found this new fashion to be "ugly" and "brutally politically" with socialist importance. In French art theory, realism also serves as a kind of "concept of struggle".

Some artists gave up academic history painting (salon painting) and devoted themselves entirely to the visible world between 1830 and 1880. Courbet built large monuments for the proletariat and modern civilization "The Stone Chokers" and "The funeral of Ornans"

Impressionism (1850-1900)

Impressionism , which is derived from the French term " impression" , describes a style of painting. This is characterized by a light color palette, a loose, sketchy color application with visible brush strokes, painting in front of the motif and mostly Pleinair painting .

The impressionists and impressionists focus primarily on sensual perception and hold quickly, intuitively and (apparently) improvises a fleeting moment. The observation of lighting effects and the changing color moods throughout the year is more important than the meaning of what was shown.

For this reason, the impressionists work preferably outdoors and in series. This definition can be used particularly well to the landscape painting of Impressionism, while the figure painters, led by Edgar Degas, saw themselves more in the tradition of the academy and rejected impressionism for their works.

The leading painter of Impressionism is Claude Monet , who, together with colleagues, continued realism in the 1860s in order to be able to take into account the new attitude to life of modernity and speed.

Other important impressionistic painters are Pierre-August Renoir (1841-1919), Gustave Caillebotte (1848-1894), Berthe Morisot (1841-1895), Camille Pissaro (1830-1903), Frédéric Bazille (1841-1870) and Édouard Manet (1832-1833).

In the sculpture, Impressionism is shaped by Auguste Rodin and in photography it is better known under the term pictorialism . The pictorialists used color photography for the first time and experimentally and appreciated blurred shots. Heinrich Kühn based in Vienna, is one of the most important photographers of Impressionism around 1900 (1866 - 1944).

In France, impressionism ended roughly with the Paris World Exhibition in 1900.

Naturalism (1858 - 1900)

The art direction of naturalism is characterized by a certain complexity, so it is not always easy to find a precise definition of it. So what exactly is meant when there is talk of naturalistic art?

One way to approach naturalism is to compare it with idealism . The latter is used in particular in figure painting and strives to create a perfect image of reality.

In contrast to idealism, naturalism can be found on the other side of the spectrum. Instead of creating a perfect world, naturalistic artists prefer a more natural representation of all imperfections of this world .

The main difference between naturalism and realism is the orientation of their paintings. While naturalism focuses on the painting method, including the invention of Pleinair painting , realism focuses on the topic. Realistic painters typically portray everyday people in their ordinary situations and not ideal heroes.

Another difference that distinguishes the art of realism is the pronounced social awareness that is expressed in the paintings. The realistic artists were often committed to political and social issues and recorded them in their works.

Socialist realism and the American Scene Painting are examples of social movements that were stimulated by developments within the realistic art movement. The naturalistic painters, on the other hand, mainly focused on developing the most genuine and natural painting style.

Another main element played an important role in the naturalism of art: the integration of regionalistic and nationalistic feelings . Naturalistic painters made their aesthetics to certain places that were familiar to them and had a sentimental value. In this tendency to paint scenes that were familiar to many people, art historians see an essential part of democratization of art .

The topics of the naturalistic paintings were familiar with a wider audience and had a deep emotional relationship.

However, it would be wrong to believe that the topics of naturalistic art consisted exclusively of landscapes and natural scenes. Naturalistic art definition is by no means limited to landscape painting . Although landscapes among the naturalists were most frequently painted, portraits and other genre pictures a common topic.

The manifesto "La Philosophie du Salon de 1857" by Antoine Castagnary in 1858 was the first theoretical script to deal with the new current. The French painter Gustave Courbet (1819-1877) also played an important role in the art-theoretical debate about naturalistic art and was even one of its most important representatives.

Max Liebermann (1847-1935), Paul Weber (1823-1916) and Käthe Kollwitz (1867-1945) are among the most outstanding artists belonging to naturalism in Germany

Post-impressionism (1880-1920)

In western painting, a movement in France that was both an expansion of impressionism and a rejection of the inherent restrictions of this style.

The term post-impressionism was shaped by the English art critic Roger Fry for the works of painters of the late 19th century such as Paul Cézanne , Georges Seurat , Paul Gauguin , Vincent van Gogh , Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and others. Sometimes speeches are still spoken of today of late impressionism or post -impressionism .

The styles of synthism , cloisonism and pointlism are also part of post-impressionism.

All of these painters except van Gogh were French, and most of them started as impressionists; However, each of them gave up this style to develop their own highly personal art.

In the strictest sense, impressionism was based on the objective representation of nature based on the fleeting effect of color and light.

The post -impressionists rejected this limited goal in favor of an ambitious expression , but admitted that they were obliged to define the pure, brilliant colors of impressionism, its freedom of traditional topics and its technology, form with short brushstacked paints.

The post -impressionists often exhibited together, but in contrast to the impressionists who started as closely connected, sociable group, they mainly painted alone. Cézanne painted in isolation in Aix-en-Provence in southern France; His loneliness was like that of Paul Gauguin, who settled on Tahiti in 1891, and van Gogh, who painted in the country in Arles.

Both Gauguin and Van Gogh rejected the indifferent objectivity of impressionism in favor of a more personal, more spiritual expression.

The work of these painters formed the basis for several contemporary currents and for the modernism of the early 20th century.

Symbolism (1890 - 1920)

Between 1880 and 1910, the most important works of art of symbolism created. This style, which we would like to see as a movement than an era, also has its origin in France.

In contrast to the factual perception, the representation of thoughts and feelings an important role, but it differs from expressionism and impressionism, in which symbolism acts as a link. At the same time, he turned against the ideas of positivism, materialism and historicism.

In addition, it was directed against the naturalistic painting tradition of the academies.

After all, he influenced the Art Nouveau with his clear forms. Disease, sin, death and passion are among the preferred topics of symbolism, often depicted with a certain decadence. For many artists, the connection between eroticism and death was particularly fascinating, which was often symbolized by delicate, skinny women with sensitive or melancholic charisma.

In 1886, French writer Jean Moréas the "symbolic manifesto" , which is considered an important foundation for the anti-rationalist and anti-materialistic style. The symbolists have concentrated not to represent reality directly, but to express them through symbols in the form of symbols and metaphors.

To do this, they have combined various image content to create a synthesis. The artists did not transfer their motifs directly from nature to the image carrier, but fed from their memory impressions.

The imagination was raised to the most important source of creativity. With this approach, the symbolists have often depicted dream -like scenes, which distinguishes them as the forerunner of surrealism .

Paul Gauguin and Emile Bernard , French painter of the late 19th century, are considered pioneers of symbolism in fine arts. Inspired by the symbolist poetry of Stéphane Mallarmé and Arthur Rimbaud, they found a way in this style to express poetic, romantic and religious content in dark, dark color worlds with strong, pure tones.

Other important representatives of symbolism in the art scene were Gustave Moreau, Odilon Redon, Paul Séruzier as well as Pierre Puvis de Chavannes in France, Arnold Böcklin and Ferdinand Hodler in Switzerland, Fernand Khnopff in Belgium, Gustav Klimt in Austria, Edvard Muncher in Norway and Max Klinger in Germany.

Classic modernity

Epochs of classic modernism at a glance

The era of classical modernism in art history marks a phase that was manifested after modern times, for example around 1900. During this time, art experienced a creative explosion with currents such as expressionism, futurism and cubism, which challenged the traditional conventions and made new ways of artistic representation.

This exciting period stretched until the end of the Second World War in 1945 and still shaped the art landscape until the 1980s. The variety of artistic forms of expression and revolutionary ideas that have arisen in this era still have an important influence on the art world.

Expressionism (1890 - 1914) and Fauvism (1898 - 1907): Art with political dimension

In the era of Expressionism, we experience a return of the importance of the expression of subjective feelings. Expressionism, originally in Germany, reflected the criticism of many artists in power.

The artists of this movement were not interested in naturalism or external phenomena. Therefore, in some expressionist paintings, which are often archaic and expressive, a trace of aggression was recognized.

The crucial historical event that triggered the transition from impressionism to expressive art was the First World War . While the impressionists celebrated the achievements of the industrial revolution and glorified Paris on their screens, the younger generation had severely doubted the rapid technical progress.

The expressionists felt the increasing 'acceleration' of the world and the problem of the individual. The comprehensive technical innovations raised doubts about the perception of the human eye, so that the painters had difficulties from 1900 to capture this 'new world' on canvas.

This led to a significant change of impressionist techniques to emphasize the artist's feelings instead of the realistic representation of the motif. A new group of artists not only wanted to capture the moment like the impressionists, but also transferred their own feelings and sensory perceptions directly to the image.

The expressionist work of art was against the bourgeoisie and academic art. It wanted to convey the message of folk art, which was considered less educated. The design options changed through new design techniques. Views became blurred, depth was only created by color and shape.

Wassily Kandinsky was an important artist of Expressionism. He researched colors, shapes and pure abstraction by using expressionist techniques.

Other famous representatives of Expressionism were Franz Marc, Edvard Munch and August Macke . At the beginning of the First World War, Expressionist paintings showed a disturbing intensity.

Expressionism was a movement that showed direct political messages through painting and a certain violence in the brush stroke. During the time of the First World War, works of art of often shocking intensity were created with a significant criticism of rule and society, which shapes painting in a political way.

What, by the way, described as "expressionist" in Germany in Germany was known as fauvism . Henri Matisse and André Derain , the leading artists of the 'Fauves' (the 'Wilden'), are often seen as the "French Expressionists" . Although both styles were created around 1905 in contrast to impressionist painting, Expressionism is rather socially critical and international.

While Fauvism mainly remained in France and had a very short heyday, Expressionism also developed in Germany, especially through groups such as "Die Brücke" in Berlin and "The Blue Rider" in Munich. However, the roots of both styles lie in the post-impressionistic currents of France, which were influenced by artists such as van Gogh , Gauguin and Toulouse-Lautrec and led to different artistic forms of expression.

Art Nouveau / Art Nouveau (1890 - 1910)

“The kiss” by Gustav Klimt is not one of the most important works of this style, but is undoubtedly one of the world's most famous paintings .

The Art Nouveau , also known as Art Nouveau , is characterized by large -scale flower elements and gently curved lines.

Symmetry played an increasingly less role, while swing and playfulness as well as a certain youthful charm come in - not just in painting.

The Art Nouveau is characterized by the use of a long, curved, organic line and was most frequently used in architecture , interior design , jewelry and glass design , posters and illustrations .

It was a conscious attempt to create a new style, free of the imitating historicism, which dominated a large part of the art and the design of the 19th century.

At that time the term Art Nouveau was shaped, in Belgium by the magazine L'Art Moderne describe the work of the artist group Les Vingt S. Bing , who called his gallery L'Art Nouveau . The style was called in Germany in Austria Sezessionstil , in Italy styles Floreal (or styles Liberty Modernismo (or Modernista) in Spain

The Art Nouveau on the European continent was largely influenced by the painters Paul Gauguin and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec , which brought experimental and expressive lines into their works. In addition, the movement found inspiration in the linear patterns of the Japanese prints ( Ukiyo-e ), which were also popular in fashion.

A characteristic feature of this playful Art Movement is its wavy, asymmetrical line. This often assumes shapes such as flower stems, buds, wine tendrils or delicate natural objects. Sometimes this line can be elegant and graceful, while at other times it has a powerful rhythmic force and has a whip -like effect.

There were numerous artists and designers who worked in Art Nouveau. One of the best known was the Scottish architect and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh , who mainly influenced geometric lines and, above all, influenced the Austrian secession style.

The Belgian architects Henry van de Velde and Victor Horta shaped the French architect Hector Guimard . Louis Comfort Tiffany was an American glassmaker, while Louis Majorelle was active in France as a furniture and iron design designer.

Alphonse Mucha contributed to the movement as a Czechoslovak graphic designer and artist, as did René Lalique from France as glass and jewelry designers. The American architect Louis Henry Sullivan decorated its traditionally structured buildings with vegetable Art Nouveau iron work.

Antonio Gaudí from Spain may be considered the most original artist of this movement: he went beyond the dependence on straight lines and instead converted buildings into curved, bulbous designs full of bright colors - organically looking.

After 1910, Art Nouveau appeared old -fashioned and limited and was generally abandoned as an independent decorative style.

Cubism (1906 - 1914)

At the turn of the century, post-impressionism and fauvism influenced the European art scene, with Georges Braque contributed significantly to fauvism with his landscapes. After Pablo Picasso , both artists began working together that led to the development of cubism.

Cubism stood for a radical new artistic approach of the reality representation. As one of the most important artificial movements of the 20th century, he broke with traditional presentation methods by introducing abstract fragmentation and sophisticated two -dimensional compositions.

Under the influence of African art, the two cubists created new painting techniques together and revolutionized the modern art scene.

Cubism can be divided into different phases.

Proto -cubism , a transition phase between 1907 and 1911, was significantly shaped by the art of Picasso and Braque. Her works Les demoiselles d'Avignon and viaduct in L'Estaque show the transition to cubism. Mask -like faces, fragmentation of the topic and geometric shapes become visible in them. This phase marks the entry into the mature cubism.

Analytical cubism , from 1908 to 1912, is characterized by fragmented motifs in neutral colors and broken shapes. Picasso also transferred these principles to his sculpture. Juan Gris joined Picasso and Braque, became known primarily by his contribution to synthetic cubism.

The synthetic cubism , the final phase of the art style from 1912 to 1914, showed a simplification and expansion of the color palette in works by Picasso, Braque, Gris and other artists. There was a special interest in still lifes that were painted or collaged.

Futurism (1909 - 1945) - avant -garde instead of Christian morality

In Italy, futurism was created in parallel to Cubism in France.

The Italian Filippo Tommaso Marinetti wrote a manifesto of futurism in 1909, in which he distanced himself from Christian morality and refused all social covers. Although Marinetti himself was not a painter, painting is still the most important art form of futurism. The futurists rebelled against classic role models and showed a pronounced rejection of the body. The representation of the act rejected them as dark and repulsive. Everything was a traditional point of view.

Futurism became an important Italian avant-garde art movement that focused on new technologies and modern city life. The supporters of futurism wanted to represent the beauty of the machine, speed and change, while they combined traditional media such as painting and sculpture with influences from post-impressionism.

The Italian futurists of the early 1900s were particularly impressed by innovative technology such as chron photography , which made it possible to capture movement in pictures. They revolutionized art by introducing movement in painting and sculptures.

They used popular media and technologies to spread their ideas and even celebrated the beginning of the First World War as an expression of their enthusiasm for modernity. Although some members later supported fascism, the group was perceived as an important avant -garde until the 1920s.

Led by the writer Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, the movement spread its ideas through manifestos in modern media and celebrated the machine age as victory over nature. Artists like Umberto Boccioni and Giacomo Balla campaign for contemporary art to capture space and movement. Futurism spread quickly throughout Italy and also received international attention from Marinetti's support abroad.

The “second” futurism (1924–1945) was shaped by various artists and architects, including Enrico Prampolini, Giacomo Balla and Fortunato Depero. With the Aeropittura , also called "Arte Sacra Futurista", they picked up futuristic topics such as dynamics and speed.

Although Mussolini preferred classicism, the architect still managed to build modern buildings that used the new building materials. The artists were made known by the newspaper "Noi" , published from 1924.

Dadaism (1912-1920)-of the (un-) meaning of things

Dadaism started its beginnings during the First World War . As a neutral country, Zurich became a refuge for artists and intellectuals, who were opposed to the war. Dadaism was created as a counter -reaction on nationalism, which many saw as the cause of the war.

The Dadaists questioned the absurdity of existing rules, norms, traditions and values ​​and turned them upside down. This art movement combined various forms of expression such as literature, poetry, dance, photography, painting, sculpture, collage and performance art . A central aspect was the deconstruction of what "art" . Artists like Henri-Robert-Marcel Duchamp not only relied on Dadaism and surrealism, but also shaped the basics of concept art that paved the way for later modern art currents.

The movement spread quickly across Europe and the United States, whereby its own groups were created in every city. Dadaism influenced various avant -garde movements of late 19th and early 20th centuries, including futurism, expressionism, cubism and constructivism. He later inspired cultural currents such as surrealism, abstract expressionism and even punk rock.

A common denominator of these currents and Dadaism is the critical examination of culture. Dadaism artists were equally unconventional in their work and in the use of materials. With their creations, Dada artists mocked nationalist and materialistic attitudes.

The explanation and characteristic definition of Dadaism is challenging, since it has no logical structure or generally valid features.

What exactly is Dadaism? Four key ideas can help to grasp Dadaism's thinking. These ideas include the use of readymades, the fascination for chance, the question of questioning bourgeois sensations and resistance to almost everything.

Dada artists created ReadyMades , everyday objects that only changed them minimally and presented them as works of art. The ReadyMades illustrate one of the main ideas of Dadaism and emphasize the artist's intention as a work of art himself and not as the object he creates. Dadaist works raise questions about the actual definition of art, artistic creativity and for the purpose of art in society .

An essential thought in Dadaism is the conscious use of chance. Many Dada artists, including Hans Arp , were guided by chance when creating their works of art. The conception without a fixed plan or clear intent was opposed to conventional art production. This artistic process offered the Dada artists an additional way to question the existing status quo and to problematize the role of the artist in creativity.

Other famous representatives of Dadaism were Marcel Duchamp , Man Ray and Max Ernst .

Constructivism (1913 - 1930) - Fusion of cubism and futurism

In 1913, the appearance of the abstract works by Wladimir Tatlin the beginning of the Russian constructivism movement, which significantly influenced the development of modern abstract art .

This Art Movement is also considered a historical current that dealt intensively with the harmonious arrangement of geometric forms. Artists who dealt with constructivism rejected living colors and expanded the styles of previous movements such as suprematism .

The conceptual theories of this time were shaped by Jean Piaget , whose research in pedagogical psychology and cognitive development dealt with the way people construct meaning, as well as the relationship between human experiences and their ideas.

This theory also contained the view that man generates his own knowledge. Daring typography and designed photo montages together with reduced color pallets became the core of constructivism. This era turned out to be extremely formative in the areas of design and architecture, which in the 1920s developed from political associations into a dynamic design style.

The renowned Russian artist Kasimir Malewitsch shaped the term “constructivist” and referred to the work of Alexander Rodtschenko , a widely recognized Russian designer.

The Harlem Renaissance (1920 - 1930) - the revival of African -American culture

The Harlem Renaissance , which culminated in the 1920s, represents an outstanding chapter of cultural revitalization for the African -American community in the United States.

This era was characterized by a remarkable appreciation and creation of intellectual and cultural forms of expression, which were developed by African -American artists in areas such as music, literature, visual art, poetry, politics, dance and fashion.

This time is also referred to as the "new negro movement" and included a variety of unique contemporary art styles that aimed to present the experiences of blacks from a non-western perspective. In particular, it illuminates the historical injustice that has happened to African American scholars and artists and thus promotes a deeper examination of the cultural heritage of the African -American population.

Originally anchored in the New York district of Harlem, this movement was shaped by numerous cultural icons, which made a significant contribution to strengthening African -American culture and the appreciation of black artists at the beginning of the 20th century.

The Harlem Renaissance called for a strong commitment to political activism and influenced significantly significant movements such as the civil rights movement in the 1950s.

This cultural heyday invites everyone to rediscover African -American art

The 7 important artists of the Harlem Renaissance, which we will see in this video, are: Langston Hughes, Aaron Douglas, Lois Mailou Jones, Augusta Savage, Gwendolyn B. Bennett, Meta Vaux Warrick Fuller and James van der Zee.

New objectivity (1918 - 1965) - cool and technical

The different Art Periods And Movements after the First World War to the present represent a highlight of contemporary art and illustrate the evolutionary development of art styles that have contributed significantly to the redefinition of concepts with regard to representation, visual aesthetics and culture in the post -war period.

New objectivity describes the art movement that arose after the First World War and was back on the visible world. This style grew in the Weimar Republic and included well -known artists such as George Grosz and Otto Dix , who worked on socially critical topics.

The movement spread beyond Germany to Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Inspired by the Italian Pittura Metafisica, she combined disillusionment with a clear image concept that objectively represented everyday objects.

The art movement was characterized by an objective expression and an urgent image of social and economic realities. The objects were presented with unmistakable sharpness, sometimes cartoon -like elements were used. This style enabled the artists to reflect on the complex aspects of contemporary life in a fundamentally honest way and at the same time to point out social grievances.

A decisive exhibition in 1925 under Gustav Friedrich Hartlaub brought together various artists and divided the new objectivity into a socially critical and a classic conservative wing, which reacted to the time perceived as crisis.

With the rise of the National Socialists in 1933 and the subsequent synchronization of the media and the establishment of a so -called German art, the end of the new objectivity marked itself. 

In the 1950s and early 1960s, the movement of the new objectivity went on a profound examination of social and political issues. The unrest and struggles of two devastating world wars caused many people to look for a stable basis that offered them orientation - a need that is clearly against mirrors in the works of art of this time.

The works of the new objectivity are often shaped by a cool, insensitive and technical aesthetics. Motifs such as the radio or light bulbs often appear that reflect the everyday technical life of humans.

As with many modern art currents, there were different currents and directions within the new objectivity, which underline the multifaceted character of this era.

Surrealism (approx. 1920 - 1945): subconscious realities

After the First World War, surrealism broke out like a huge wave over the art scene and powdered all the pre -edged views of the Parisians about the nature of reality, art and human psyche.

It was officially launched André Breton In 1924, Breton published the surrealistic manifesto, which included a variety of ideas that shaped surrealism as a movement and was inseparably linked to the psychoanalytic theories of the unconscious.

His definition of surrealism was:

We should not lose sight of that the idea of ​​surrealism simply aims at the total recovery of our psychological power, with a means that is nothing more than the dizzying descent in ourselves, the systematic illumination of hidden places and the progressive darkening of other places ... "

(Source: Malen-lernen.org)

His revolutionary attempt to break through the existing norms of that time was widespread in the 1920s and 1930s in Europe and the USA.

Named after Guillaume Apollinaire , an important poet and art critic, the first surrealistic exhibition took place in Paris in 1925 and showed work by artists such as Pablo Picasso and Man Ray . This art style often addressed uncomfortable aspects of human existence and social taboos and presented a challenge for bourgeois beliefs.

In this way, surrealism developed into a structured art movement with a profound political, philosophical and social dimension, which set the methods to both shock and fascinate the followers.

As absurd as the pure illogical of the Dada movement may appear, the surrealists regarded the realm of dreams as the source of all truths. One of the best -known artists in this surrealistic direction is Salvador Dalí , and their works such as "melting Watches " (1954) are certainly known to them.

Surrealism, strongly shaped by psychoanalytic thoughts, had many artists use their dreams as a source of inspiration. This movement was an outcry against rationality, which was considered destructive for society.

Surrealistic artists deal with their unconscious through various techniques and put it at the center of their works.

Despite the initial rejection, surrealism has changed the face of modern art sustainably and continues to work to this day.

Art Deco (approx. 1920 - 1935): proportioned, elegant and daring

Although this styled era in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s became the peak of popularity, the development of the Art Deco style already underway over a decade before this official performance.

So she appeared for the first time shortly before the outbreak of the First World War in France. However, the general public only became aware of the concept of the concept of a world exhibition exposure of the international of the Arts Décoratifs et Industriors Moderne

As an extremely decorative art style, the artists of the Art Deco movement were characterized at an early stage by experiments in the areas of design, painting, furniture, architecture and construction within their stylistic spectrum.

Art Deco presents itself as an art style that is characterized by lively colors and daring geometric shapes and leads to extremely luxurious and detailed works of art. In addition to the visual art, it also includes architectural as well as design elements.

From the beginning, Art Deco Stark was shaped by the bold geometric forms of cubism and the bright colors of Fauvism. The style produced a strong feeling for order and represented proportioned and balanced designs in lush and lively forms.

The design in Art Deco-style found its way into numerous forms of design of the early 20th century, with the movement experimenting with elements from beautiful art, architecture, fashion, furniture design, transport and even everyday objects. The folding twenties (Roaring Twenties) are inconceivable without Art Deco.

characteristics of Art Deco were clearly recognizable as the art movement. Déco art was often described as a collection of different styles and regarded as an eclectic fusion of different influences, materials and shapes.

Therefore, it can be challenging to differentiate the Art Deco style from other similar art currents such as Art Nouveau , Art Moderne , the Bauhaus movement or the Arts-and-Craft movement.

Nevertheless, the era of Art Deco was of enormous importance, since its decorative properties inspired a variety of other art styles.

Bauhaus (1920 - 1925): Integration of industrial design and art

Bauhaus-Kunst is closely associated with one of the most influential art schools in the 20th century. The Bauhaus played a crucial role in the training of many important artists and designers. Despite its closure in 1933 by the Nazi regime, the school had profound influence on education and the connection between society, art and technology in the USA and Europe.

The Bauhaus style, founded in 1919 by Walter Gropius in Weimar, Germany, emerged from the creative currents of the 19th and early 20th centuries, including Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts movement. These movements strived to break through the boundaries between applied and visual art and to combine inventive design with practical applications.

In the 1920s, the Bauhaus School focused on the integration of industrial design and art , which led to its most important achievements. Gropius called for a return to medieval ideals in art and craft and promoted the appreciation of craftsmanship in all artistic forms of expression such as industrial design, architecture and graphic design.

The rise of Russian constructivism in the 1910s contributed to the aesthetic development. The Bauhaus became a pioneering institution for contemporary art in Europe and the USA.

The orientation of the school focused on her creative and effective teaching approach. Gropius compares this to a bike that has rings, whereby the outer ring should symbolize the six -month preparatory course that Johannes Itten launched. This course focused on the fundamental elements of the design, in particular on the diverse characteristics of different shapes, colors and materials.

The professors brought by Gropius to Weimar, including the avant-garde artist Johannes Itten, Lyonel Feininger and sculptor Gerhard Marcks , were largely responsible for the curriculum of the Bauhaus. Itten shaped the school with its expressionist approaches and the romantic Middle Ages as a focus. Conflicts with Gropius' analytical attitude led to Itens's departure in 1923.

His successor, László Moholy-Nagy , integrated technology and the social role of art into the revised curriculum. In its short existence, the Bauhaus recorded a variety of stylistic influences; In addition to Moholy-Nagy, artists such as Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky as well as multidisciplinary talents such as Oskar Schlemmer and Georg Muche worth mentioning.

Modern, postmodern and contemporary art

Epochs of contemporary art at a glance

The amazing development of art over the centuries

Art history is a captivating topic that includes many centuries and different styles. The different periods show how art has changed over time and help to understand in which political, social and cultural environment it has arisen.

Learning about art history helps us understand the beauty of art and shows us our cultural origin and creativity.

Comprehensive understanding of art - epochs, styles, visual language and historical framework correctly understand

Would you like to immerse yourself in even deeper into the topic or are you looking for trustworthy and thoroughly researched sources for presentations, school tasks, presentations, study work or scientific texts?

Are you looking for reliable sources for essays, homework, study work, scientific work or presentations? Or is it just to get into the topic a little deeper?

Then we would like to suggest the following book recommendations from you (by the way, these are also on our bookshelf as a popular reference works):

Understanding art: everything about epochs, styles, visual language, structure and more in over 1,000 colored illustrations

A comprehensive introduction that illuminates art in its historical, cultural and technical contexts and facilitates access to an in -depth understanding of art.

The epochs of art: an overview from antiquity to modern times

This book offers a concise and entertaining overview of the different Art Periods And Movements and is ideal for everyone who wants to find out quickly and informatively in art history.

Big Ideas. The art book: Important works simply explained

The art book presents art history from different regions of the world, its concepts and ideas in such a clear way that they can quickly be understandable for everyone.

The history of painting: developments, techniques and motifs in art

Art history of the past 5,000 years: from ancient beginnings to the Renaissance to modern painting. Background information to work, rich illustrations.