Art Movements of 1883

Soon we will look at artwork inspired by the destruction of Krakatoa, but before that the artistic movements of this time period are important background information.

The Realist movement was coming to an end during this time. This movement was highly guided by the philosophical ideas of Positivism. Positivism is the idea that information should be gathered and interpreted using reason and logic, certainty and truth are held in the highest regard. This led Realism to reject the traditional subjects and beliefs of previous movements such as Romanticism. Instead the focus was on depicting everyday life truthfully and without exaggeration or embellishment. Some of the prominent artists associated with this movement are Gustave Courbet, Jean-François Millet, and Édouard Manet.

The Impressionist movement was going on in full swing during 1883. Impressionist paintings had pure, intense colors as technology has advanced so that paint in tubes is now a possibility. This allowed artists more freedom to paint outside. The brush stroke was distinct in Impressionist art, often thick and giving the canvas a texture. Artists strove to capture a moment of life, an impression of their subject. Like the Realists, Impressionist rejected traditional thinking and subject matter and strove to capture reality. Some key artists include Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir.

The Symbolism movement was just beginning at this time. The ideas prominent in this movement is the art should represent the essence of the artist. It should represent their ideas and emotions and therefore all artwork is highly individualistic. Oftentimes Symbolism is associated with darker morbid subjects that represent the dream world. Some of the key artists within this movement are Paul Gauguin, James Whistler, and Gustave Moreau.

Another movement which hadn't yet began but was being brought to life by specific artists was Expressionism. This movement was highly influenced by Symbolism and seeks to display emotion through am intense color palette. Expressionism was a projection of the internal state of the artist. Some prominent artists include Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Franz Marc, and Wassily Kandinsky. One of the precursors to the full Expressionistic movement was Evdard Munch. We will talk about him a little more next time.

Works Cited:

Arnason, H. H., and Mansfield, Elizabeth C.. History of Modern Art. 7th ed., Laurence King Publishing Ltd, 2013.

“Movements and Styles in Modern Art.” The Art Story, HE ART STORY FOUNDATION, 2018, www.theartstory.org/section_movements.htm.