Modernism Essay for Visual Arts

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Modernism Essay Modernism was an artistic and philosophical movement between the 19th and 20th century. The movement covers a variety of artistic styles, ideas and cultures including Impressionism, Secessionism, Post Impressionism, Fauvism, Expressionism, Cubism, Futurism, Constructivism, Surrealism and Pop Art. Each of these movements has influenced how Modern Art is portrayed and how it will continue to evolve in the future. The pioneers of these ‘isms’ struggled for innovation and were characterized as Avant-Garde. The first inkling of Modernism came after the French Academy refused 5000 works. Outraged by this censorship a Salon for the Refused artworks was created by Emperor Napoleon to exhibit the rejected art. Modernism can be considered as a Golden Age for art as well as a time of radical revolution against tradition. Impressionism began in Paris, France the art capital of the world in the late 1860’s. It was initiated by a group of artists (Claude Manet, Camille Pissarro, Auguste Renoir, Mary Cassatt, Edgar Degas, Paul Cezanne, Alfred Sisley and Edouard Manet) who were tired of following the traditional style of art and so decided to rid themselves of these ‘outdated’ shackles and began to paint unconventional subjects and outdoor landscapes. Through the industrial revolution, artificial tinctures which allowed the creation of newer and brighter colours. The artists’ paintings were their impressions and dealt with contemporary life unlike that of traditionalists which stuck to ancient mythology and romanticism. Impressionists saw their art not as moralistic but rather an attempt to capture light and fleeting effects through a new technique of small dabs of similar and brilliant colour created a mimic of sunlight, running water or moving vegetation, shadows were given life and colour. This new look on light and colour and how it affected the image of
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