A Journey Through Modern and Postmodern Art by Amir Amin

 A Journey Through Modern and Postmodern Art

Art has never existed in a vacuum. It is a vibrant conversation, a dynamic interplay between the artist and the world around them. Social, political, and cultural movements ignite passionate expressions of rebellion and solidarity. Who does not love a bit of rebelliousness in art right? Political upheavals shatter artistic norms, leading to bold new styles. Cultural shifts redefine beauty, identity, and the very purpose of art itself. Delving into the shift in visual art is like peering into a kaleidoscope, where social, political, and cultural movements are constantly on the move and shifting, forever shaping the artistic narrative.

“What am I looking at?”, “Is this art?”, “Can this be considered art?”, “This is just a blank white canvas, how is this art?” We have all experienced that moment when we walked into an art museum or gallery. Both modern and postmodern arts are guilty as charged for leaving many puzzled upon seeing the artworks. But what makes these two art genres so puzzling? Fear not, art enthusiasts! Today, we will unravel the mysteries of these two distinct movements.

Modern Art is an art movement that started in the mid-19^th century and spanned until the early 20^th century. It was characterized by a shift away from traditional style to a more abstract, experimental approach to art making. Modern art does not represent a certain archetype of art, but instead an umbrella term that encompasses a wide range of art styles and movements. Among the major modern art movements were ‘Impressionism’, ‘Expressionism’, ‘Cubism’, ‘Dadaism’, and ‘Surrealism’. These art styles and movements were different in terms of techniques and schools of thought.

Postmodern Art is a body of art movements that emerged as a reaction to idealism and metanarratives of modernism, embracing a more skeptical and critical approach. Postmodern art was born of skepticism, criticism, and irony. Postmodern art is also an umbrella term where many art forms and styles fit. Among the forms and styles that fit under this were ‘Neo-Dada’, ‘Pop Art’, ‘Conceptual Art’, and ‘Minimalism’.

The main differences between modern and postmodern art are rooted in their divergent approaches to artistic expression, representation, and cultural critique, which were heavily influenced by the social, political, and cultural movements of their respective eras. While modern art sought to break away from traditional ways of artistic making and establish new artistic paradigms, postmodern art questioned the very notion of artistic progress and challenged the establishment of modern art and metanarratives.

What is modern art? Modern art is a complex and ever-evolving narrative. However, modern art is generally described as art produced after the Industrial Revolution, a period of global change that peaked in the mid-1800s with the invention of new technologies such as electric motors, consumer manufacturing, and photography. Densely populated cities replaced rural living, factory work became commonplace, and travel and global connections boomed.

In response to these drastic changes, modern art was founded as a revolt against academic artistic conventions, which were championed by the traditionalists - realistic depictions and religious themes. One of the main ethos of modern art was depicting real life and conveying the psychological and emotional effects of navigating the world in rapid flux. While still referencing traditional subjects like landscapes, still lifes, and portraits, artists like Henri Matisse, Paul Cezanne, and Paul Gauguin explored new approaches that were different from their contemporaries. Their brush strokes were more expressive, and the focus was not only on the subjects but the whole setting and mood as well. 

Impressionism is often considered a precursor to modern art and Claude Monet was a central figure in the Impressionism movement. One of the main characteristics of impressionism is the interplay between light and shadow. Impressionism in turn started a chain of reactions in the art world. From impressionism, came post-impressionism which differed slightly from impressionism’s interplay between light and shadow. Post-impressionism is painted according to the subjective experiences and emotions of the painters. From post-impressionism, the art movement evolved again to fauvism where the artists took arbitrariness colors to the kaleidoscope extreme.

Modernism; A World of Progress and Reason

The Industrial Revolution (1760 – 1840) cast a long shadow over the art world. It ushered in new materials like synthetic paints, metal alloys for sculptures, and mass-produced canvases. This revolution with its advancement, made art supplies more affordable, allowing a wider range of people to engage in artistic creation. The rise of wealthy industrialists created a new class of art patrons who commissioned and collected art, fostering financial support for a growing number of artists. 

Progression of many Western nations since the Industrial Revolution booming. The dawn of the 20^th century witnessed a remarkable convergence – a surge of groundbreaking inventions, a flourishing artistic scene, and a period of relative peace. In the early this century, many modern cities emerged, shaped by industry, innovations in transportation especially railroads, and mass migrations of people to some big and advanced countries such as America helped to spur the art world. During this era, we not only see the advancement of modern art but also modern architecture. Architects such as Frank Llyod Wright, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and Renzo Piano were superstars. These architects took a central role in transforming the urban landscapes in major cities such as New York and Milan.

Art became a tool for personal expression, theoretical inquiry, and social reform. Modern artists experimented with materials and processes that often challenged the very definition of what art is. Modernists embraced abstraction, fragmentation, and reassembling the visual world to create a more subjective experience. For example, Cubism, pioneered by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, deconstructed objects into geometric forms, showcasing multiple perspectives on a single subject. Wassily Kandinsky, one of the pioneers of Abstract Expressionism, translated emotions and inner experiences onto the canvas through the usage of colors and forms.

In 1899, Sigmund Freud; one of the greatest minds of all time published ‘The Interpretation of Dreams’ and popularized the idea of the subconscious mind, and many artists began to explore dreams, symbolism, and personal iconography to present their subjective experiences. This can be seen with the rise of Surrealism, spearheaded by Salvador Dali and Rene Magritte. These surrealist artists challenged the rational world, delving into the depths of the human psyche through dreamlike imagery and unsettling juxtapositions.

In France, the entertainment industry developed and grew, influencing popular culture. Among the new forms of entertainment was the cabaret, where people could drink, eat, and see live shows in a loose, high-spirited setting. In the 1880s, the cabaret culture started to spread out to other European cities and the United States. The artists designed posters promoting cabarets and cabaret-influenced subjects such as Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s Divan Japonais and Raoul Francois Larche’s Loie Fuller, the Dancer.

There are many styles, movements, and artists in a century of modern art. Among the notable art movements or styles known are Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Fauvism, Cubism, Expressionism, Surrealism, and Abstract Expressionism. There were many notable modern artists, but here is a list of some who left an indelible mark on the art world.

The impressionists, championed by Claude Monet and Edgar Degas, focused on capturing the fleeting moments of light and atmosphere. Monet, a pioneer of broken color and loose brushstrokes, used these techniques to create his iconic Water Lilies series. Degas, on the other hand, captured movement and everyday life with a focus on composition and unusual perspectives evident in his renowned work The Ballet Class.

Post-Impressionism, building upon the foundation laid by impressionists, explored a more personal and emotional expression. Vincent van Gogh is one of the most recognized post-impressionists and he is known for his usage of bold colors, thick impasto application, and swirling brushstrokes to express his intense emotions and unique perspective of the world. His Starry Night is a masterpiece of this style.

Fauvism, characterized by vibrant, non-naturalistic colors, emerged as a reaction to artistic norms. Henri Matisse and Andre Derain, prominent fauvists used these colors to create a sense of harmony and emotional expression, often alongside bold brushstrokes. Their style challenged traditional notions of color theory and made way for future experimentation. 

Cubism, spearheaded by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, revolutionized the depiction of form. This radical movement presented objects from multiple angles and perspectives on a single canvas, shattering the traditional concept of a single viewpoint. Violin and Candlestick by Braque and Les Demoiselles d’Avignon by Picasso are prime examples of how cubists explored themes of fragmentation and multiple perspectives.

Expressionism, in contrast, focused on the emotional experience of the artists. Edvard Munch, a pioneer of this movement, uses distortion, bold colors, and emotional intensity in work like The Scream which remains to this day as the most iconic representation of existential angst.

Surrealism, not limited solely to visual art, explored the realm of dreams and the unconscious mind. Andre Breton, a notable figure in surrealism, outlined his ideas in the Surrealist Manifesto, emphasizing the disinterested play of thought and the omnipotence of dreams over reason and logic. Influenced by Freudian psychoanalysis and the emphasis on the power of unconscious thoughts, notable surrealists were Frida Kahlo, Salvador Dali, and Rene Magritte.

Finally, abstract expressionism emerged as a rejection of the notion that art should represent the real world. Artists like Jackson Pollock, Wassily Kandinsky, Mark Rothko, and Hilma af Klint focused on creating emotionally charged works that transcended realism.

Postmodernism; Skepticism and the Rise of Multiple Voices

Postmodernism is not simply a separate movement, but a response to modernism. It deconstructed the modernist focus on radical innovation and metanarratives of Western dominance, often employing, skepticism and irony in its place.

Modernism was based on idealism and reason, while postmodernism was born of skepticism, criticism, and irony. According to Jean-Francois Lyotard, postmodernism questioned the idealism of modernism. The horrors of World War II and the Cold War fostered a sense of disillusionment and skepticism towards the grand narratives such as the traditional notions of beauty and representation.

Postmodern art is an umbrella term where many art forms and styles fit. Among the forms and styles that fit under this umbrella term were Neo-Dada, Pop Art, Conceptual Art, Minimalism, and more.  These forms tend to share a few common characteristics but one might say postmodernism has many faces. Postmodernism refused to recognize the authority of any single style or definition of what art should be. It also blurs the line between high art and low art, between art and everyday life.

The late 20^th century saw a surge in globalization. Airplanes and railroads were a common sight and telephone networks were being established in various countries around the world, making travel and communication accessible to the masses. Which led to the artistic cross-pollination. Artists were no longer confined to their local traditions. Artists are no longer stuck in one country or continent. Keith Harring, a boy who lived in Pennsylvania and later in his life, moved to New York City, where he became a prominent figure in the city’s vibrant art scene.  This newfound exposure also challenged the traditional Eurocentric dominance of the art world, where in yesteryear, Paris was the centerstage of the art world, but due to this, the centerstage shifted to New York City.

The consumerist culture of the late 20^th century became a central theme for many postmodernists. Pop Art, spearheaded by Andy Warhol, blurred the lines between high and low culture. Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup artworks challenged the very notion of artistic value in a world obsessed with brands.

The rise of identity politics significantly impacted postmodern art. Previously the underrepresented groups, such as women, minorities, people of color, and the LGBTQ+ community, finally found a voice. Artists like Guerrilla Girls challenged sexism and racism within the art establishment with their works, Do Women Have to Be Naked to Get into the Met Museum and When Racism and Sexism Are No Longer Fashionable, How Much Will Your Art Collection Be Worth? Keith Harring was another artist who valiantly communicated messages of hope, love, and social change with his artworks. His iconic Radiant Baby symbol represents the idea of universal love.

Artists like Nam June Paik experimented with video art to critique our dependency on television and mass media, simultaneously blurring the boundaries between art and entertainment. Barbara Kruger and Shepard Fairey appropriated corporate logos and advertising aesthetics to challenge mass media, consumer culture, and societal norms. By appropriating these familiar visual elements, Kruger and Fairey disrupt the social quo, and challenge and question the messages and ideas promoted by the mass media.

Conclusion

Modernism and postmodernism stand as distinct chapters in the ever-evolving narrative of art. By delving into their social, political, and cultural contexts, we gain a richer appreciation for the ongoing dialogue and development that characterized the art world. This journey is not a linear progression, but rather a dynamic one.