Modern Art and Contemporary art differ based on the period in which that art was created.
Key Takeaways
- Modern art refers to a specific period in art history, from the 1860s to the 1970s, characterized by a focus on innovation and experimentation.
- Contemporary art refers to art created in the present day, from the 1970s to the current time, and is often characterized by a focus on social and political issues.
- While modern art is a defined period in history, contemporary art constantly evolves and changes to reflect the current cultural and societal landscape.
Modern Art vs. Contemporary Art
Modern art is the artistic explanation of the subject, putting aside old traditions and realism. It started in 1880 and continued till 1970. It focuses on the creation of new ideas. Contemporary art refers to the art of the present day. It focuses on social, political, and cultural transformation.
The term modern art is defined as artistic work done in a period roughly from 1860 to 1970. It denotes the philosophies and style of the artist produced during that era.
This term is associated with art in which the style or tradition of the past period has been putten aside for a spirit of experiments. The modern movement also includes symbolism, cubism, futurism, and Op art.
The term contemporary art is an art that is used for the present day. In contemporary art, mainly, the artists are alive and still doing their work.
It is an art that is about the concern and idea than the look of the work. In contemporary art, artists look for a different way of experimenting with their ideas and materials.
Comparison Table
| Parameter of Comparison | Modern art | Contemporary art |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | The term modern art is referred to as an artist’s artistic work done from 1860 to 1970. | Contemporary art is an art that is used in the present day. It is more concerned about the idea than the look of the work. |
| Period | Modern art began in the 19th century and ended in 1960 or 1970. | Contemporary art has begun from 1960 or 1970 to the present day. |
| Styles | Modern art refers to the art style of the mid-twenty century. | Contemporary art refers to the art style which is mainly popular today. |
| Created | The credit for revolutionary art goes to people like Van Gogh. | Contemporary art is created by a person who is still now living. |
| Impact | Modern art emphasizes the subject rather than focusing on realism. | Contemporary art has some social impact, like political, social, and cultural reformation. |
What is Modern Art?
Moderns sometimes refer to people describing the art from the present time, but the present-time art form is called contemporary art.
Modern art is the period that started in 1880 and lasted till 1970. Some artists like Manet and Van Gogh were credited with revolutionizing the art.
Modern art emphasizes a subjective representation of the subject rather than realism, prevalent before 1880.
This art has its unique style, which reflects the inner and the outer world. It focuses mainly on a subject rather than a portrayal of life as a view in a church or influences society.
In this art, the tradition of the past has been thrown aside by a spirit of experiments. Artists have experienced a new way of seeing with a fresh idea about art’s function and the material’s nature.
Modern art was produced from 1860 to 1970, which denotes the philosophies and art from that era.
What is Contemporary Art?
This art is created by the artist who is still now living. Contemporary art greatly influenced the world of political, social, and cultural reformation in the late 1990s.
It is believed that contemporary art has no rigid form, unlike modern art. Every topic has great significance, like global warming, human rights, environmental destruction, and globalization, excellently portrayed in contemporary art.
Unlike modern art, this art has a great social impact. These contemporary artists have the significance of liberty and freedom, which they experiment with all styles.
Modern artist tends to find the pure idea of art, and contemporary artists are considered liberal about the purity they show in their art and their attitude.
One of the main characteristics of contemporary art is that it looks more like exposing and tackling an issue that will occur in the future. This is considered one of the main differences between modern and contemporary art.
Main Differences Between Modern Art and Contemporary Art
- Modern art began in the 19th century and ended in 1960 or 1970. On the other hand, Contemporary art has been begun in 1960 or 1970, the present day.
- The term modern art is referred to an artist’s artistic work done from 1860 to 1970. On the other hand, Contemporary art is an art that is used in the present day. This artist concerns with the idea more than the look of the work.
- Modern art emphasizes the subject rather than focusing on realism. On the other hand, Contemporary art has some social impact like a political, social, and cultural reformation.
- Modern art refers to the art style of the mid-twenty century. On the other hand, Contemporary art refers to the art style that is mainly popular today.
- Artists like Van Gogh and Manet are credited for revolutionary art. On the other hand, Contemporary art is created by a person who is still now living.
- Modern is believed to be self-expensive. On the other hand, contemporary art focuses mainly on social, so contemporary art has a social impact.
- Modern art is generally made on a canvas by the artist. On the other hand, contemporary art can be made in every medium, like tech-enabled artwork, graphical art, object design, and video art.
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00043079.2010.10786119
- https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=l-Ldmim-CA0C&oi=fnd&pg=PR13&dq=modern+art&ots=d9ZHPh8zkO&sig=xZqpNRqlNIJ-o5vLLU8zqMArB8A
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Chara Yadav holds MBA in Finance. Her goal is to simplify finance-related topics. She has worked in finance for about 25 years. She has held multiple finance and banking classes for business schools and communities. Read more at her bio page.
