Modern art generally refers to artworks created roughly between the 1860s and the 1970s. It’s a period when artists began to challenge traditional rules and explore new ways of expression. Instead of depicting the world exactly as they saw it, modern artists focused more on emotion, striking color, and innovation.

Movements like Impressionism, Dadaism, and Surrealism emerged during this time, reshaping how art was made and understood. With time, distinct new art forms also emerged, such as “performance” and “happening” art. Modern art is ultimately all about experimentation, individuality, and the belief that art should reflect the changing ideas and spirit of its era.

Modern art, as a movement, belongs to a defined historical period. In art theory and history, works from the second half of the 19th to the mid-20th century are generally referred to as modern art. Outside of professional circles, it’s common to refer to modern art as any work that embraces innovation over academism or traditional techniques.

Contemporary art, on the other hand, refers to art created from the 1970s to the present day. It includes even more mediums than modern art did, and it often uses new materials and technology, such as multimedia or graffiti art. So while modern art broke the old rules, contemporary art continues to reinvent them.

Modern art doesn’t have a single founder since different artists helped shape its beginnings. One of the key figures is Édouard Manet, who first broke away from traditional techniques and inspired the Impressionists, despite maintaining an academic style for most of his career. Later, artists like Henri Matisse would go on to focus on bold color and emotion over realism and co-found Fauvism.

However, one of the oldest artists with whom we can find stylistic examples similar to what we now call modern art is further back in time. In 16th-century Spain, the painter Doménikos Theotokópoulos, known as “El Greco,” prioritized color over form and imagination over measure and proportion.

Modern art encompasses different movements that each changed how people saw and created art. Some of the most notable examples in painting are Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Expressionism, Cubism, Surrealism, Fauvism, and Abstract Expressionism. Each movement introduced new ways to use color, perspective, and emotion, from the plein air methods used by Monet to the energetic splatters Pollack is famous for.

However, other movements introduced entirely new mediums to the art world. Dadaism is particularly famous for Marcel Duchamp’s readymade artworks that challenged the notion of what art is. These movements paved the way for performance and happening art, and now, you can experience installations and mixed media art in galleries around the world.

You need to keep your mind open if you want to understand modern art. Instead of looking for literal subjects or a perfect reflection of reality, focus on what the work makes you think or feel.  But don’t feel pressured to like everything you see – modern art is a very diverse category. Whether you prefer abstract or figurative art, landscapes or portraits, we guarantee there’s something for everyone.

Each style, artist, and individual artwork is different, and it explores ideas, emotions, or cultural changes. You can look at the color, composition, and form to understand the artist’s perspective and see if it resonates with you. Modern art is meant to encourage you to connect with creativity, freedom, and the spirit of innovation behind every piece, so take your time to explore it.

Modern art can bring a feeling of sophistication and originality into any space. It represents bold ideas and fresh perspectives, and owning a piece of it lets you be part of that ongoing story. Whether you like portraits or abstract compositions, there’s a modern artwork out there to suit your palette and add a final touch to your space.

At Crib of Art, we curate a collection of modern artworks that capture this energy through the artists’ thoughtful work and authentic craftsmanship. By buying from us, you can directly support the visionaries shaping today’s culture while building an art collection that inspires you.

In art history, pre-modern art describes all art that came before modernism. This includes everything from ancient times all the way through the Middle Ages and to Renaissance and Baroque art. Pre-modern art encompasses hundreds of movements and styles, all of which are representational, as opposed to abstract. Color was always secondary to form in European artistic tradition, so these works tend to focus more on perspective, anatomy, and lighting.

However, as a historical term, “pre-modern” only refers to the era before industrialization, which is roughly before the mid-19th century. People sometimes use the term “classical” as a simple way to contrast modern art with older works, but that’s inaccurate. Classical and neoclassical art are two very distinct art periods that focus on order, ideal proportion, and strict cultural values.