Art is a valuable part of the world’s history, and it is incredibly flexible. It ebbs and flows throughout time, constantly evolving with changes in environments and cultures. Many innovators lead the way for these changes, and they are responsible for creating entire movements that push the boundaries of the medium. Here are the nine most influential art movements throughout history.
Renaissance Art
Early human art was engravings and cave paintings. With the advent of tools and paper, art became much more complex. However, art was limited to utilitarian or religious purposes. This would characterize art for centuries, and give insight into the civilizations of the time.
During the Renaissance, artists transcended artistic boundaries. Art pieces emphasized the individual element, and this can be easily seen in the emphasis on nudity at the time. Nudity existed in art previously, but the Renaissance saw nude depictions evolve into something much more lifelike and three-dimensional. This period lasted for two centuries, from around 1400 to 1600.
Notable artists in this period were Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Donatello. They were incredibly talented, and because of their skill, they were often commissioned by the Roman Empire to create art for places of worship. Many of these commissioned pieces would go on to become their most popular works. Some of the most famous Renaissance works are Michelangelo’s David and Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.
Baroque Art
This period comes directly after the Renaissance and highlights the beauty of movement. Works during this period are especially rich in composition, highlighted by a depth of color and contrasts. This movement was prominent from 1600 to 1750, but many movements after showed Baroque influence. Baroque art is very dynamic and plays with shadows and highlights.
You can see this style in works such as Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s sculpture, The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa, Diego Velázquez’s Las Meninas, and Caravaggio’s The Conversion of Saint Paul. The Catholic Church saturated the Baroque movement with inspiration, so many pieces are explicitly religious or have religious underpinnings.
Rococo Art
This movement was not as long-lived as its predecessors, lasting from about 1699 to 1780, but was incredibly influential. Many movements that came after shared similar tendencies. For example, previous movements experimented with contrasting lights and darks and the depth of the human profile. Rococo centers around theatrical art that evokes emotion rather than depicting a subject.
The Rococo movement began as a reactionary movement in France against King Louis XIV’s intensely rigid and formal styles, and it would soon take off in other European countries. The Rococo style influenced not only paintings and sculptures, but also furniture, fashion, and silverware.
Romanticism
Previous art movements stayed somewhat within the boundaries of rationality, but Romanticism took things to the extreme. This movement emphasized imagination and dramatization of events to create a mood rather than simply depicting an object or event. What makes the Romantic era so unique is that many artists ventured outside to attempt plein air painting, where they showed reverence for nature and the world around them.
This period ran from around 1750 to 1850, and in that short time, it made major waves within the art world. Some of the most famous works from this movement are Caspar David Friedrich’s Wanderer above the Sea and Eugène Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People.
Realism
This period marks the introduction of modern art. Realism began in France around the 1840s, and it initially was meant to capture the everyday life of subjects, rather than posting for the artist in their best clothes. Realism art decreased in the 1900s, but the movement created the foundation for many to come in the following century.
This movement also saw the subject matter transition from aristocracy to all individuals throughout all social classes. Artists used many earth tones to portray people and events as they were. Jean-François Millet’s The Gleaners and Édouard Manet’s Olympia are some of the most recognizable pieces from this movement.
Impressionism
Impressionism ran around the same time as Realism, from 1865 to 1885. Impressionist artists sought to capture their subject’s immediate impression of a moment, and they did so with quick brushstrokes. While some impressionist art seems unfinished, the artist has successfully captured what it is to view or be in the moment of something. The most famous impressionist artist is Claude Monet, with works such as The Water Lily Pond and Woman with a Parasol.
Post-Impressionism
This period was critical in creating the foundation for personal expression after Impressionism declined in 1910. Impressionism captured momentary feelings, but post-impressionism elevated this. Personal feelings concerning the outside world would be used, achieving an abstract form of art.
The most well-known post-impressionist painter is Vincent van Gogh. His works such as The Starry Night and his self-portrait illustrate his search for personal expression.
Surrealism
Though surreal art predates the Surrealist movement, this art style peaked from 1916 to 1950. This movement sought to put the paint on the canvas and rejected rationality. Surrealism transcended traditional art as well, and philosophy expanded in this period as well. Philosophers and artists alike questioned the cultural conventions and the accepted norms of the time. Artists like Salvador Dalí and Max Ernst took imagination to the extreme with their works.
Postmodernism
The postmodern art movement took root in the mid-20th century, and continues today. Postmodernism influenced Dadaism and abstract expressionism, but it’s more so a rejection of art rules and traditions.
The movement attempts to reclassify what patrons understand as art. Notable proponents of the movement were Jackson Pollock, Jeff Koons, and Marcel Duchamp.
The nine most influential art movements throughout history shine a great light on the history of art, but there is still so much more missing. Art imitates life and influences itself. Artists are quick to say they draw inspiration from the past, but the movement of this period is still undetermined. If you want to support current artists seeking to lead a new art movement, consider purchasing a black panther sculpture from Jesse Nusbaum. This bronze sculpture’s intricate hand-carved details will make it stand out wherever you place it.
