Differences between modern art and contemporary art

Modern art and contemporary art are two distinct periods in art history. Below, we compare their main characteristics.

Modern Art:

Spans from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century, approximately until the 1960s.

It is characterized by artistic movements such as Impressionism, Cubism, Surrealism, and Expressionism. These movements sought to break with established artistic traditions and experiment with new forms of representation.

Modern art was often influenced by social, technological, and political changes of the time, such as industrialization and the two world wars. It spans from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century, approximately until the 1960s.

Contemporary Art:

It began around the 1960s and continues to the present. Contemporary art is diverse and is characterized by the absence of a dominant style or single artistic trend. It can address a wide variety of themes and media, from painting and sculpture to installation, performance, and digital art. It focuses on reflection on contemporary society, globalization, technology, and current cultural issues. It often challenges traditional notions of art and can be conceptual or provocative.

In short, the main difference lies in the time period and stylistic and thematic characteristics. Modern art refers to a specific historical period with defined artistic movements, while contemporary art refers to current artistic production, which is diverse and reflects a variety of influences and approaches.
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