Abstract art emerged in the modern era.
Traditional and modern art differ in both the way they look and the reasons for their creation. Traditional art is what we now refer to as realist or figurative. It was largely concerned with representing the world in the way it is seen. Abstract art, which came into being in the art of the Western world in the first decade of the 20th century, was a major component of modern art and the result of a continual experimentation in painting, sculpture and other art forms in reaction to the accepted notions of the time.
History of Traditional Art
Traditional art focuses on the figure and realism. Portraits, still lifes and landscapes are the mainstays. In sculpture, figures are represented more or less realistically, although some liberties are taken, for example when mythical figures are represented. Often religious scenes dominate, and frequently artists were paid for their work by patrons who had some say in what was represented and how.
Advent of Modern Art
Abstraction is often the most recognizable version of modern art, but the modern period actually began in the 19th century, as artists like Delacroix and the other artists of the Romantic movement began using vigorous brushstrokes in their paintings that began to make the picture appear more fractured. This was followed by Impressionism and Post-Impressionist artists like Cezanne, who took these developments further. The first completely abstract painting was done by Kandinsky in the early 20th century, a harmony of colors and brushstrokes that depicted no object.
Traditional Genres
Religious scenes are often the subject of traditional painting, sculptures, prints and other works, often because art was frequently commissioned by the church. Landscapes were used to show nature's grandeur. Portraits were frequently commissioned by figures in power to commemorate their rule or accomplishments. A still life full of meat, fruit and other comestibles served as a tribute to abundance.
Forms of Modern Art
Modern art is characterized by a large number of different movements occurring at the same time. Cubism, invented by Picasso and Braque, fractured the picture frame and was based on the almost abstract landscapes of Cezanne. Fauvism, invented by Matisse and others, emphasized intense colors and flourished at the same time as Cubism. Abstract Expressionism followed up on Kandinsky's experiments in paintings composed without reference to objects. Pop art followed, puncturing the seriousness of Abstract Expressionists and using elements of everyday life not often thought of as material for fine art, such as soup cans and comic strips.
Art Today
Art today is found in many different forms. Some of it would fit into a traditional framework, characterized by realism, portraits of people or other time-honored themes. Other contemporary art comes from a philosophical mode of making art that is called conceptualism, based on the notion that the idea is more important than the final art object.
