#11 - Art Through The Ages - A History of Art Movements
Revolutionizing and redefining the true meaning of art
So what is an art movement?
An art movement is a style or trend in art that is characterized by a specific set of techniques, themes or philosophies.
Source: https://www.artyfactory.com/art_appreciation/art_movements/art_movements.htm
Art movements are usually typically defined by a group of artists who share similar ideas and work together to promote their style or approach to creating art.
Throughout history, various art movements have emerged and evolved, each with their own unique characteristics and impact on the art world and by extension, the real world.
A Brief History
One of the earliest art movements is the Renaissance, meaning “rebirth” which began in the 14th century in Italy and lasted until the 16th century.
Prominent artists of the Renaissance, such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, focused on realism, perspective, and humanism in their works.
Another significant art movement is the Baroque period, which began in the late 16th century and lasted until the early 18th century, characterized by its ornate and dramatic style, often used to evoke emotion and convey religious or political messages
Artists such as Caravaggio and Peter Paul Rubens were prominent figures of the Baroque period.
The 18th and 19th centuries saw the emergence of the Rococo and Neoclassical movements and is known for its playful and ornate style, often depicting scenes of everyday life.
Neoclassicism, on the other hand, looked back to the classical art of ancient Greece and Rome, with a focus on simplicity, symmetry, and idealized forms.
The 20th century saw a plethora of art movements, such as the Impressionists, Fauvists, Cubists, Surrealists, and Abstract Expressionists.
Contemporary art has truly become more diverse and global. The term encompasses a wide range of artistic styles, techniques, and mediums, and often addresses issues of politics, society, and identity.
Some contemporary art movements include conceptual art, installation art and digital art.
The Rise of NFT and A.I Art
In more recent years, the rise of NFT art and A.I generated art is taking the world by storm and not in a good way.
Will NFTs transform the art world? Are they even art?
The professional artist community is outraged and up in arms, claiming that A.I made art is not true art, but illegal, unconsented and uncredited theft and plagiarism.
An A.I.-Generated Picture Won an Art Prize. Artists Aren’t Happy.
ArtStation is hiding images protesting AI art on the platform
Similarly, poorly draw sketches and illustrations masquerading as NFT art are being auctioned, sold, resold and traded for thousands and even millions of dollars, much to the chagrin of real artists who spend decades perfecting their skill and yet, struggle to make ends meet.
NFTs Weren’t Supposed to End Like This
Independent Artists Say NFTs Are the Bane of Their Existence
NFT art has also sparked controversy in the art world, raising questions about the originality, authenticity and ownership of said artwork, as many NFTs are digital copies of existing artworks.
Some artists and art institutions have also raised concerns about the potential for NFT art to exacerbate inequality in the art world as only a small number of artists and collectors are able to participate in the market for NFT art.
The Great Debate
Whether or not they are considered "real art" is a matter of personal opinion and highly debatable.
Photo by Sebastian Herrmann on Unsplash
On one hand, some people argue that NFT art and A.I art are legitimate forms of art because they involve some form of creativity and skill while others argue that the people who create possess little to no artistic sense or skill and required to create “real art”.
As for whether NFT art and A.I art can be considered as a new type of art movement, it is possible as these forms of digital art are still in the early stages and the trends and philosophies surrounding them may evolve over time.
Photo by Zalfa Imani on Unsplash
Is The Future Digital and Machine-Made Art?
Many art movements have shaped the art world throughout history.
Each movement has its own unique characteristics and has contributed to the definition and development of art as we know it today.
The duration of an art movement can vary greatly.
Some art movements, such as Impressionism, lasted for several decades, while others such as the Cubism, lasted for only a few years.
Photo by David Clode on Unsplash
The length of an art movement can depend on a variety of factors, such as the level of acceptance or popularity of the movement among artists and art collectors or the emergence of a new technology or cultural trend that shift the focus of the art world collectively.
It's also worth noting that, while the peak of an art movement may be considered to have passed, the influence and legacy of an art movement can continue to be felt long after the movement has officially ended.
Nonetheless, we’ll have to wait and see if this trend is truly sustainable and revolutionary enough to be called a proper art movement.
Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash
Will machine generated art be the next art movement?
Or will we see a radical revival of traditional art in a brand new form?
Only time will tell.
Further Reading
The Most Famous Art Movements and Styles
20+ Revolutionary Art Movements That Have Shaped Our Visual History