Before describing modern art, it is necessary to understand its background. During this period, the population of cities started to increase, and Napoleon III commissioned the French architect George-Eugene Haussmann to design wide sidewalks and parks. Throughout this period, wars occurred in Europe, including World War I, which took place from 1914-1918, and the Spanish Civil War, which took place in 1936-1939. The Spanish Civil War and World War II influenced the styles of many European artists and led to the Great Depression of the 1930s.
Piet Mondrian
Known for his bold use of primary colors, Dutch painter Piet Mondrian’s paintings reflect the influence of the Impressionist movement. His paintings evoked the natural world and often featured vivid primary colors like red, blue, and yellow. In 1908, he exhibited his Luminist works at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, establishing the Dutch avant-garde. But Mondrian’s style is more than just his bold use of colors.
In his paintings, Mondrian’s efforts to achieve simplification are best seen in his Still Life with Ginger Pot. This still life features two versions – the first is cubist, while the second is a round composition with triangles and rectangles. Although Mondrian did not achieve this goal in his early works, his later works are characterized by an almost cartographical approach. A close look at his early works reveals his fascination with the art of the period.
Gustave Courbet
Artists like Gustave Courbet have made a name for themselves in the history of art. Born in 1833, he grew up in the French town of Ornans. The town featured prominently in his work, and he returned there frequently as his career progressed. The town provided him with inspiration for his work, and his sensitivity for the world around him is evident in his art.
It is an important work of modern art because it is a great example of the Realism movement. The large canvas depicts a woman’s anonymous nude body covered in hair. The piece is one of Courbet’s most powerful works and illustrates the reality of birth for every human being. It is also one of the most popular works in the Modern art world. Despite its popularity, many critics have criticized the artist’s painting.
André Breton
André Breton is an important figure in the development of Modern art. A native of Tinchebray, Normandy, Breton studied medicine and psychiatry and was sent to a military hospital in Nantes during World War I. While there, he became acquainted with Sigmund Freud, Jacques Vache, and other leading figures of the avant-garde. These men introduced Breton to psychiatric art, which he developed. Later, Breton met and married his third wife, Elisa.
After the war, André Breton returned to Paris and continued his political activism and promotion of Surrealism. He also continued to write poetry, publishing Constellations in 1959, which was inspired by the gouache paintings of Joan Miro. Although Breton would spend much of his time promoting Surrealism, he also continued to collect art, writing poetry, and exhibiting his artwork. In fact, his work has been exhibited in galleries around the world.
Alberto Giacometti
Aside from his famous paintings, Alberto Giacometti was also known for his sculptures. Giacometti was a Swiss artist who exhibited his works in various cities. His sculptures were thought to be a symbol of fragile human existence. His sculptures were created by using his fingers and a modelling knife. In these pieces, he depicts his friends with intent and no contour lines. He also tried to create an aura of enigmatic realism in the work.
Born in a remote valley in the Swiss Alps, Alberto Giacometti was the son of a successful realist painter. He began making his first sculpture at the age of thirteen, and in 1923, he traveled to Paris to study under Antoine Bourdelle, a disciple of Auguste Rodin. In Paris, he discovered surrealism, and was soon immersed in its avant-garde currents. By 1933, he was a leading figure in Surrealism.
Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso is considered one of the most influential modern artists. His original style started in 1901, when he restricted his palette to blue and white. His paintings often depicted forlorn and emaciated figures, which emphasized his poverty and status as a social outcast. His paintings were influenced by the world around him, and he later joined the Communist Party and attended several peace conferences. Today, many collectors admire his work.
Although his work is divided into different periods, there are still many similarities between the early years and later stages of his life. His work was widely reproduced during this time, and some of his paintings were highly influential. These works have become a part of our visual language. While Picasso may not have been able to fully control his creative process, he did experiment with new ways of representing his ideas. Pablo Picasso was an artist who challenged the rules of the art world and challenged the status quo.