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Neoclssical (Neoclassicism) (1750-1850) : Wikimedia Commons

Neoclassicism (1750–1850) drew upon elements of classical antiquity, with a focus on harmony, simplicity, and proportion. Artists were influenced by classical ideals but also included modern, historically relevant depictions. Romanticism (1780–1850) rejected order and rationality embraced in classical and Neoclassical art, emphasizing individual imagination and appreciation of nature. Realism (1848–1900) aimed for accurate depictions of everyday life, influenced by photography. Impressionism (1865–1885) sought to capture immediate impressions through quick brushstrokes and unfinished styles, using modern subjects like dance halls.

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406 views4 pages

Neoclssical (Neoclassicism) (1750-1850) : Wikimedia Commons

Neoclassicism (1750–1850) drew upon elements of classical antiquity, with a focus on harmony, simplicity, and proportion. Artists were influenced by classical ideals but also included modern, historically relevant depictions. Romanticism (1780–1850) rejected order and rationality embraced in classical and Neoclassical art, emphasizing individual imagination and appreciation of nature. Realism (1848–1900) aimed for accurate depictions of everyday life, influenced by photography. Impressionism (1865–1885) sought to capture immediate impressions through quick brushstrokes and unfinished styles, using modern subjects like dance halls.

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Atch Xiao
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Neoclssical(Neoclassicism) (1750–1850)

Jacques-Louis David, Napoleon Crossing the Alps, 1801. Image via Wikimedia Commons.

As its name suggests, the Neoclassical period drew upon elements from classical antiquity.
Archaeological ruins of ancient civilizations in Athens and Naples that were discovered at the
time reignited a passion for all things past, and artists strove to recreate the great works of
ancient art. This translated to a renewed interest in classical ideals of harmony, simplicity, and
proportion.

Neoclassical artists were influenced by classical elements; in particular, a focus on idealism.


Inevitably, they also included modern, historically relevant depictions in their works. For
example, Italian sculptor Antonio Canova drew upon classical elements in his marble sculptures,
but avoided the cold artificiality that was represented in many of these early creations.
Romanticism (1780–1850)

William Blake, The Descent of Man into the Vale of Death. Sold for $225,000
via Sotheby’s (January 2016).

Romanticism embodies a broad range of disciplines, from painting to music to literature. The
ideals present in each of these art forms reject order, harmony, and rationality, which were
embraced in both classical art and Neoclassicism. Instead, Romantic artists emphasized the
individual and imagination. Another defining Romantic ideal was an appreciation for nature,
with many turning to plein air painting, which brought artists out of dark interiors and enabled
them to paint outside. Artists also focused on passion, emotion, and sensation over intellect and
reason.

Prominent Romantic painters include Henry Fuseli, who created strange, macabre paintings that
explored the dark recesses of human psychology, and William Blake, whose mysterious poems
and images conveyed mystical visions and his disappointment in societal constraints.

Realism (1848–1900)
Jean-François Millet, The Gleaners, 1857. Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Arguably the first modern art movement, Realism, began in France in the 1840s. Realism was a
result of multiple events: the anti-Romantic movement in Germany, the rise of journalism, and
the advent of photography. Each inspired new interest in accurately capturing everyday life. This
attention to accuracy is evident in art produced during the movement, which featured detailed,
life-like depictions of subject matter.

One of the most influential leaders of the Realist movement is Gustave Courbet, a French artist
committed to painting only what he could physically see

Impressionism (1865–1885)
Claude Monet, Impression, Sunrise, 1872. Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Impressionist painters sought to capture the immediate impression of a particular moment. This
was characterized by short, quick brushstrokes and an unfinished, sketch-like feel. Impressionist
artists used modern life as their subject matter, painting situations like dance halls and sailboat
regattas rather than historical and mythological events.

Claude Monet, a French artist who spearheaded the idea of expressing one’s perceptions before
nature, is virtually synonymous with the Impressionist movement. His notable works include The
Water Lily Pond (1899), Woman with a Parasol (1875), and Impression, Sunrise (1872), from
which the name of the movement itself is derived.

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