A few people would argue that art is not a subject to be studied. True, it is much more a passion to be followed, but that does not mean it does not require rigorous research to figure out where you stand among all the various styles of art.
The human brain will always try to categorize information to make it easily accessible, and it is the same with the subject of art. We have compartmentalized art styles according to its era, use of colour, choice of brush strokes, etc. Just as you would pick up any book, one look at its language will give away what era it was written in. “Thou, hast, wilt,” this will undoubtedly tell the reader that this is literature of the Victorian era. Just as a books language and rhetorics speak volumes about the era it was written in, so do an artworks colours, brush strokes articulate the style that it belongs to.
This post will provide a simple summary of each art movement that conveniently groups together artists of a certain period or style, so they are easily understood within a context.
ART MOVEMENTS
Impressionism
Impressionism, is just what the name suggests, an impression. The name was coined at the 1874 exhibition, by louis Leroy, when he unwittingly called the famous “Impression sunrise” by Claude Monet an impression, because he thought it looked unfinished. Supposedly insulting the painting, he turned it into a widely recognized style. Personally, impressionism, with its short visible brush strokes and the unblended colours depict for me the reality of nature, as if the artist wants the true colours of nature to make an impression on us, before we have the time to process it.
The paintings have an airy, natural sense, to them, where even one glance can flood you with all the colors used in the art. Although the brushwork was initially criticised, it has become quite ordinary, even in the salon.
Expressionism
Art that focuses on self, the human body, sexuality, nature, are sorted into the expressionist category. This style accommodates many artists, which includes Vincent van Gogh for his depiction of the troubles of the human mind.
Cubism
Cubism is consist of artworks that look like they have a 3D effect applied on it, and it gives you a multifaceted view of the subject, encouraging the audience to view everything from different angles, and perspectives.
Surrealism
The Enlightenment was just around and this style aspired to liberate and praise the unconscious mind from the confines of formal empirical thought. Surrealists thought that the logical intellect suffocated the power of the imagination. They thought, influenced by Karl Marx, that the psyche would disclose the contradictions in ordinary life and spark revolution. Their focus on the power of the imagination places them in the Romantic tradition, but they felt that insights could be obtained on the street and in ordinary life, unlike their forefathers.
Realism
Realism is what most modern artists deal with, and strive for. It portrays the subject with as much honesty as it can and seeks to present to the audience a photograph of the subject, in its truest form. It rejects romanticism, and portrayal of a subject in a twisted or perceived manner, wherein the artist shows you what he sees rather than what is actually there.
I deal in realism, attempting to show the true nature of creation, every hair and crease of the animal, as it is. I endeavour to ponder in the beauty of the creation, however imperfect it may seem, embrace it with all its flaws and display the majestic moments in it’s unfiltered glory.
In conclusion, no art style or category is right or wrong, it is simply a matter of your taste, your choices, and even your mood. You might decide you want a fresh take on a common subject, and prefer Impressionism or expressionism, or you might feel like you want to be pragmatic, and see things for what they are instead of trying to warp it, and you decide on realism. Whatever you choose, it solely depends upon you.
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