Introduction
Artists create paintings in a vast array of unique styles. Some artists distinguish themselves with a unique style, while others modify their technique throughout their career. In this blog post, we will explore 5 most famous painting styles.
Impressionism
Impressionism is a style of painting that uses visible brushstrokes and color to show light and color. It was one of the most popular artistic movements in 19th-century Europe.
Though it’s now mostly remembered for its association with post-Impressionist artists like Paul Cézanne (1839-1906), Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890), Edgar Degas (1834–1917) and Claude Monet (1840–1926).
This painting became the source of the movement’s name, after Louis Leroy‘s article The Exhibition of the Impressionists satirically implied that the painting was at most, a sketch
Impressionism was a movement in which artists attempted to capture the effects of light on objects, rather than portraying them from life. The term “impression” refers not only to how an object appears but also how it feels:
when we touch something wet or cold, our skin becomes damp,
when air touches hot metal, it feels rough,
or when water comes into contact with sandpaper or cloth fibers, they stick together more easily than if there were no moisture present at all!
Surrealism
Surrealism is a movement in the arts that began in the early 1920s and flourished in the 1940s and 1950s.
Freud’s theory of dreams influenced it, holding that unconscious desires are the driving force behind people’s dreams rather than their control.
The Surrealists were interested in exploring this idea through art, using images from dreams to create paintings or other visual representations of subconscious states.
In many ways, surrealist painters have used the image of human beings as subjects for their work—but they’ve also delved into other forms of imagery as well: buildings, landscapes, animals, even plants (like flowers).
Expressionism
Expressionism is a style of painting that expresses the artist’s inner emotions or feelings.
It was one of many styles that emerged in the early 1900s and became popular because it allowed artists to express themselves freely.
Artists use bold colors, distorted shapes and strong lines to create a sense of energy and movement in their work.
Expressionist painters were influenced by other artists who had already experimented with this type of art, such as Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), Henri Matisse (1869-1954) or Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890).
Cubism
Cubism was an influential modern art movement, developed by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, who both lived in France. The Cubist style was developed during the years 1907-1912.
Multiple viewpoints distort or completely omit the representation of space in this work.
The Cubist style was highly geometric and abstract. It incorporated aspects from other styles such as realism, impressionism and fauvism with elements such as perspective distortions or omissions of color into form compositionally linked together by subject matter rather than being independent forces acting on one another.
Pop Art
Pop Art is a style of art that emerged in the 1950s and 1960s. It’s a reaction against the idea that art should be serious and realistic.
Pop artists used images from popular culture, such as advertising and comic books, to create their works.
The most famous pop artist of all time is Andy Warhol, who created his famous Campbell’s Soup Cans paintings during this time period.
Part of his Bunk! series, this is considered the initial bearer of “pop art” and the first to display the word “pop”.
Conclusion
There are so many different and wonderful painting styles out there. It can be hard to choose just one favorite. What style speaks to you the most? Is it the bright and bold colors of the Impressionists? Or the sharp lines and shapes of the Abstract Expressionists? Maybe you prefer the quieter and more reflective style of the Realists. No matter what your preference is, there is definitely a style of painting that you will love.
