Critical and Contextual Studies: Movements

Critical and Contextual Studies: Movements

Understanding Movements in Art

  • Movements in art are notable changes or shifts in style, subject matter, or philosophy, often driven by a group of artists following a common goal or set of principles.
  • Recognising art movements can assist in the analysis and contextual understanding of artworks.

Notable Art Movements

Impressionism

  • Impressionism started in France in the late 19th century.
  • Impressionist artists aimed to capture fleeting moments, often using quick, broken brushwork and bright, unmixed colours to mimic natural light.

Cubism

  • Begun by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque in the early 20th century, Cubism breaks down objects into geometric shapes and represents them from multiple viewpoints.
  • Cubism is often divided into two phases: Analytic Cubism (early phase) and Synthetic Cubism (later phase in which collage elements were introduced).

Expressionism

  • Expressionism refers to a movement where artists sought to express emotional experience rather than physical reality.
  • Expressionist works often portrayed raw, shocking, or distorted images to evoke emotional responses.

Pop Art

  • Pop Art emerged in the mid-20th century, drawing inspiration from popular and commercial culture.
  • Pop Artists often used bold colours, and iconic, or repeated imagery to represent the influence of mass media, advertising, and consumerism.

Interpreting Movements

Contextual Understanding

  • A key component in analysing movements is grasping the context in which they arose.
  • Understanding them requires an appreciation of the socio-political and cultural events of the era.

Style and Technique

  • Each movement has a unique style and technique that defines it.
  • This can be seen in the use of colour, line, texture, composition, among others.

Influence and Legacy

  • Examining the influence and legacy of a movement can provide further insight.
  • This involves looking at how the movement has shaped other artistic styles, or impacted the society at large.

Artists and Artworks

  • Identifying key artists and artworks of a movement is a crucial aspect of studying art movements.
  • It enables a deeper understanding of the principles, philosophies, and techniques that define the movement.