Liz Goldner, Editor

HISTORY OF MODERN ART

As an avid student of the history of modern art, I am often intrigued by the origins of "art," understanding that all of us have creative yearnings.

Artists might tell you that they interpret reality to affect the intellect, attitude and emotions, while working with a variety of tools.

British philosopher Richard Arthur Wollheim (1923-2003) explains that there are three ways to approach art: as a realist who views aesthetic quality as an absolute value; as an objectivist who sees art as having absolute value; as a relativist who regards art as varying with the human experience. (Modern and contemporary art often follow the third approach.) Wollheim further says that art is, "one of the most elusive of the traditional problems of human culture."

Art is, "the use of skill and imagination in the creation of aesthetic objects, environments, or experiences that can be shared with others," explains Britannica Online. And as I quote from Ellen Dissanayake on Contemporary Art Dialogue, "[Artists take, "the ordinary and [make] it special. You create a bowl out of mud but you...make it special by engraving a pattern or figures on it. A poet takes ordinary words and makes them special. An artist places an activity or an artifact in a realm different from the everyday."

TWO ART LOVERS

I thought about those explanations recently while talking to two art lovers. I reiterate that conversation on my newest blog page, History of Modern Art:

The history of modern art is often confusing even to people who collect and frequent art galleries. I recently asked a collector to describe contemporary paintings and sculpture exhibited at a local gallery. She said, "Oh, the art is contemporary and modern," combining two different art movements from two time periods. The collector's companion chimed in saying, "the art is avant-garde," citing a term used 100 years ago to describe modern art styles including cubism.

While thinking about that conversation, I again researched art history, deciding, as I read, to create my new blog page on art history. Here are some of my reflections about this topic.

Contemporary art is created NOW and is contemporary to us. Contemporary art is works made from the 1960's or 70's up until right now.

[Art] looks back to the appearance of the term "postmodernism" in 1960, and to its broader usage by 1970 in essays and art criticism. This philosophical term challenged and reacted against modernism, echoing dramatic changes in our social and economic systems. Further, postmodern essays and critiques coincided with the arrival of contemporary art.

Contemporary art is more socially conscious and philosophically inclusive of several styles and media than art of previous eras. Contemporary art includes hybrids of styles, and encompasses pre-modern, modern and pop. The defining line between painting and sculpture is blurred, while technology is often part of the mix.

Contemporary art has conceptual, political and social messages, and addresses feminism, multiculturalism, globalization, bioengineering and AIDS, among other trends.

People not schooled in the history of modern art often use "modern" to describe "contemporary" art.

IMPRESSIONIST WORKS

My blog page continues, The history of modern art began in the 1860's with impressionist works by Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro and other forward-looking artists.

Modern art is exemplified by departure from tradition and by experimentation. This "modernism" trend influenced literature and music. With the visual arts, modernism influenced art styles for 100 years with clearly visible brushstrokes, dissolving images, and later surrealism, conceptualism, abstraction and acceptance of line, form, color and process, among other characteristics.

"Modern" means of or relating to the present or recent times as opposed to the past. It is characterized by or uses the most up-to-date techniques, ideas, or equipment; signifies language currently used as opposed to earlier forms; and designates current styles or trends in art, architecture and other cultural activities.

"Modern" in its dictionary meaning is similar to "contemporary" which is why many people call contemporary art modern. And these people are not wrong in a general sense.

Avant-garde, originally a French military term, means "advance guard." Modern artists used it to describe their work, meaning their paintings and sculptures were at the vanguard of art trends. The English language adopted the term in 1910.

Please check out my history of modern art page for more reflections about this endlessly fascinating topic. I would love to hear what you think about the facts as I present them and about my thoughts on this page. You can respond on Click here to post comments at the bottom of the page.

JOIN THE DIALOGUE!

Do you have something to say? Do you have a comment, different opinion or perspective? I would love to hear from you! Join the dialogue at Contemporary Art Dialogue Forum.

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER!

Do you Twitter? I Twitter here!