Main movements of modern art

Impressionism, as innovation in the representation of light and color

Impressionism is an artistic movement that emerged in the 1890s, revolutionizing the art world with its innovative and avant-garde approach. This style, characterized by its use of light and color, moves away from traditional figurative art to explore new forms of expression, laying the foundations for modern and contemporary art.
Post-Impressionism, more subjective and emotional

Post-Impressionism is an artistic movement that emerged as a response to Impressionism. This new art is characterized by its figurative approach and the exploration of emotions and perception, a trend that moved away from the mere reproduction of reality.
Fauvism, use of vibrant and expressive color

Fauvism stood out for its bold use of color and its avant-garde approach. This style of art developed mainly in the 1900s and had notable influences from artists such as Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin. The Fauves, a group of artists that included figures such as Henri Matisse and André Derain, sought to break with the conventions of figurative art, exploring the use of colour as a means of emotional expression. The 1905 Salon marked a milestone in the recognition of Fauvism, where their works were exhibited, provoking reactions of both admiration and criticism.
Cubism, a break with traditional perspective

This style is characterised by its focus on the decomposition of forms into geometric figures and the simultaneous representation of multiple perspectives. In the 1920s, Cubism established itself as a benchmark in the history of new art. Its influence can be traced to works by masters such as Paul Cézanne and Paul Gauguin, as well as the explorations of Vincent van Gogh in the 1890s.
Futurism. The celebration of dynamism and technology

Futurism was an avant-garde movement that originated in Italy in 1909 with the manifesto of the poet Filippo Tommaso Marinetti. Inspired by the speed and energy of modern life, this movement exalted dynamism and technology, featuring themes of machines, automobiles, and the force of industrialization. Futurists such as Umberto Boccioni and Giacomo Balla captured movement and speed in their works through angular lines and fragmented compositions that gave a sense of energy and modernity. Futurism rejected the past and celebrated a mechanical and constantly changing world, marking a definitive break with artistic tradition.
Expressionism, a focus on emotions and subjectivity

Expressionism emerged primarily in Germany, as a movement that prioritized intense emotions over the objective representation of reality. Artists such as Edvard Munch, Wassily Kandinsky, and Egon Schiele captured the inner world and psychological conflicts of an era marked by anxiety, alienation, and instability.

Using vibrant colours, distorted shapes and bold brushstroke techniques, the Expressionists reflected the pain, fear and emotional turmoil they felt in the face of the rapid changes and tensions of modern society.
Surrealism, the movement that explores the unconscious

Strongly influenced by the psychoanalytic theories of Sigmund Freud, Surrealism sought to reveal the mysteries of the unconscious. This movement, led by André Breton, explored the world of dreams and repressed desires through dreamlike and symbolic images that revealed the hidden part of the human mind. Surrealists, such as Salvador Dalí and René Magritte, developed an aesthetic that fused the real with the fantastic, creating works full of symbolism and in which everyday objects were transformed into elements of deep and disturbing meaning.
Dadaism, the rejection of logic and the celebration of chaos

Dadaism was a radical reaction to logic and cultural norms, emerging amidst the chaos of World War I. This anti-art movement, initiated in Zurich by artists such as Tristan Tzara and Marcel Duchamp, challenged reason and conventional aesthetics, exploring anarchy and absurdity. With iconic pieces such as Fountain, a urinal signed by Duchamp, the Dadaists raised a critique of war and the social system, adopting chaos and absurdity as art forms, and questioning the value and essence of the artistic work itself.
Abstract Art and the use of shapes, colors and lines

Abstract art eliminated figurative representation in favor of expression through geometric shapes, colors and lines, emphasizing the autonomous value of these visual elements. Artists such as Wassily Kandinsky, Piet Mondrian and Kazimir Malevich moved away from visible reality to create compositions that conveyed pure emotions or ideas without direct reference to the external world.
This movement laid the groundwork for non-representational art, proposing that color, line, and form have their own language capable of expressing spirituality and deep emotions.

In addition to the more well-known groundbreaking movements, Art Nouveau and Symbolism enriched the diversity of modern art. Art Nouveau, with its decorative and organic aesthetic, explored natural motifs, wavy lines, and stylized figures, seeking to integrate art into everyday life through architectural and ornamental designs. Symbolism, on the other hand, focused on representing abstract ideas and emotions, imbuing the works with a mysticism and spirituality that captured the irrational and spiritual side of the human being. Both movements, although less radical in their rejection of tradition, contributed significantly to the diversity and visual richness of modern art.
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