Modern Art vs Postmodern Art
The distinction between modern art and postmodern art can be explored in terms of their time periods, concepts, and ideas. Many people struggle to understand the differences between modern art and postmodern art because these two art forms are often confused when it comes to their concepts and ideas. Modernism is generally considered to have started in the 1860s and continued until the 1950s, while postmodernism began after 1968. Postmodern art utilizes technology to accelerate the creative process and is less focused on the individual compared to modern art. Traditional artists often criticize postmodern art as not being “real” art.
What is Modern Art?
Modern art is based on the artist’s creative ability, with art during the modernist era being seen as the unique creations of the artist. Works of modern art are believed to have a deep meaning due to the artist’s emphasis on purpose. Modern art delves deep into its subject matter and is less influenced by media compared to postmodern art. The focus in modern art is on the artist adhering to the traditional method of creating art, progressing through each step methodically.
The time period associated with modern art ranges from the Impressionist era to halfway through the Pop-Art movement. Some well-known modern artists include Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Wassily Kandisnky, Marcel Duchamp, Alexander Calder, Mark Rothko, Helen Frankenthaler, Georgia O’Keefe, Ellsworth Kelly, Al Held, Bruce Nauman, and Bridget Riley.
What is Postmodern Art?
In contrast, during the postmodernist era, art became more digital, particularly after the advent of computers, with artwork represented in the form of graphics and similar formats. Art preservation during postmodernism also relied on digital media, with artworks being copied and preserved using digital technology. The original meaning of creativity is lost in postmodern art, as everything became computerized. Remixes became popular, leading to a decrease in creativity and originality during the postmodern art period. Postmodern art does not delve deep into the subject matter and relies heavily on technology. There is a greater media influence in postmodern art compared to modern art, and the traditional method of creating art is shortened. Artists in the postmodern era do not take as much time to complete their creations as earlier artists did due to the use of technology.
Postmodern artists include Barbara Kruger, Jenny Holzer, Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakaim, and Nan Goldin.
Key Takeaways
- Modern art, which places great importance on an artist’s creative ability and delves deep into subject matter, is more focused on the individual and less influenced by media compared to postmodern art.
- Postmodern art, which emerged after the advent of computers, is more digital and reliant on technology, with a greater media influence and less emphasis on the individual.
- While modern art is characterized by unique creations with deep meaning, postmodern art is often criticized for lacking creativity and originality due to its reliance on remixes and digital technology.
