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An art movement is a tendency or style in art with a specific art philosophy or goal, followed by a group of artists during a specific period of time, (usually a few months, years or decades) or, at least, with the heyday of the movement defined within a number of years.
- Ancient Egyptian Art
- Ancient Greek Art
- Western Medieval Art
- Renaissance
- Baroque
- Rococo
- Neoclassicism
- Romanticism
- Academic Art
- Realism
Time period: Ancient Centuries: 3150 BC to 640 AD Characteristics: Depiction of royalty and gods, symmetrical composition, use of hieroglyphics Influences: Religion, politics Ancient Egyptian art is known for its precise and detailed depictions of their rulers and gods. They were also skilled in sculpture, architecture and the use of hieroglyphics....
Time period: Ancient Centuries: 900 to 330 BC Characteristics: Idealisation of human form, focus on philosophy and mythology Influences: Philosophy, athletics, politics Ancient Greek art focused heavily on the human form, often depicting athleticism in a realistic but idealised manner. The Greeks were also known for their intricate sculptures and p...
Time period: Medieval Centuries: 5th to 15th century Characteristics: Religious themes, use of gold and bright colours, stylised figures Influences: Christianity, Byzantine art Western Medieval art saw a shift towards Christian themes and the rise of religious institutions such as the Catholic Church. With paintings often depicting biblical scenes ...
Time period: Renaissance Centuries: 14th to the 17th centuries Notable artists: Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo TheRenaissance art movement, characterised by realism and classical themes, emerged in Italy during the 14th century and spread throughout Europe. During this period, there came a renewed interest in classical studies of Greek an...
Time period: Post-Renaissance Centuries: 17th century Notable artists: Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Vermeer The Baroque style followed, featuring exaggerated motion and clear detail to produce drama, emotion, and tension. Baroque paintingswere often theatrical and used symbolism to convey narratives. The Dutch Golden Age, a time of great prosperity in th...
Time period: Post-Renaissance Centuries: 18th century Notable artists: Jean-Antoine Watteau, François Boucher Rococo artemerged in France as a more lighthearted and playful art style, which contrasted to the serious and classical styles of the Baroque period. Pastel colours, ornate details, and scenes of leisure and pleasure characterise the Rococo...
Time period: Post-Renaissance Centuries: 18th to 19th centuries Notable artists: Jacques Louis David, John Flaxman Neoclassicismcame about as a reaction against the vanity, frivolity and excess of the Rococo movement. Neoclassical artists looked to classical art and culture, particularly Ancient Roman and Greek, for inspiration and used it to conve...
Period: Post-Renaissance Centuries: 18th and 19th centuries Notable artists: Eugene Delacroix, Caspar David Friedrich Romanticism was an art style that emphasises emotion and individual expression. The art movement was spurred by a desire for liberty during times of political upheaval, such as the French Revolution. This art movement came about aga...
Time period: Post-renaissance Century: 16th to the 19th century Notable artists: Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, William-Adolphe Bouguereau Academic artis an art style and method of teaching art developed in the 19th century. The Academies were official institutions where artists would learn the principles and techniques of fine arts, such as drawin...
Time period: Post-Renaissance Century: 19th century Notable artists: Gustave Courbet, Jean-Francois Millet Realismwas an art movement from the mid-19th century; artists sought to depict everyday life and contemporary society in a realistic manner, without idealisation or romanticisation. Realist artists focused on objective reality and the mundane,...
Aug 31, 2023 · Art movements are characterized by distinct features that set them apart from other styles or forms of art. These characteristics often reflect the core values and ideals of the movement, as well as the socio-cultural context in which it emerged.
Sep 24, 2021 · An art movement is a tendency or a style of art with a particularly specified objective and philosophy that is adopted and followed by a group of artists during a specific period that may span from a few months to years or maybe even decades.
- Pre-Raphaelites. Coined in 1848. John Everett Millais. Ophelia, 1851-1852. Tate Gallery, London. Despite name-dropping the Renaissance master Raphael, the British artists who formed the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood in 1848 wanted nothing to do with him.
- Impressionism. Coined in 1874. Claude Monet, Impression, Sunrise, 1872. Photo via Wikimedia Commons. Advertisement. On April 15, 1874, a group of French artists who called themselves the Société Anonyme des Artistes, Peintres, Sculpteurs, Graveurs, etc.
- Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider) Coined in 1903. Franz Marc. The Large Blue Horses, 1911. Walker Art Center, Minneapolis. The artist group known as Der Blaue Reiter—meaning “the Blue Rider” in English—was named after a painting by one of its co-founders, the Russian émigré Wassily Kandinsky.
- Fauvism. Coined in 1905. André Derain. L'Estaque, 1905. The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Before Cubism emerged as one of the most influential modern art movements of the 20th century, Fauvism made waves.
Discover important art movements that help shape modern art. From Impressionism to Cubism and Photorealism, we look at different types of art.
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“Art History 101” is Artsy’s ever-evolving guide to the artists and movements that have shaped our world. Far from a static discipline that can be confined to textbooks, art history is a living thing that requires constant reappraisal to reflect society’s changing attitudes and norms.
