Modern Art vs Postmodern Art
The difference between modern art and postmodern art can be discussed in terms of their period, concepts and ideas. In fact, many find it difficult to comprehend the difference between modern art and postmodern art because the two types of art are often confused when it comes to the understanding of their concepts and ideas. It is interesting to note that modernism roughly is estimated to have begun in the 1860s and went on till about 1950s. On the other hand, postmodernism began after 1968. Postmodern art uses the help of technology to increase the speed of the creation process. Postmodern art also is not so focused on the individual as the modern art. Postmodern art is criticized as not being an art by traditional artists.
What is Modern Art?
Modern art is based on the creative ability of the artist. Hence, during the modernist era, art was considered as unique creations of the artist. It is believed that the works of modern art had deep meaning. This is due to the fact that the artist gave more importance to purpose during the times of modern art. Modern art believed in the theory of going deep into the subject. Media influence is seen less in the case of modern art. Modern art focuses on the artist following the traditional method of creating art by going step by step slowly.
Country road in Provence by Night by Vincent van Gogh
The time period concerned with modern art puts it from the period of Impressionism to half-way through the Pop-Art movement. Names of some of the modern artists are 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?
On the other hand, during the post modernist era, especially after the advent of computer, art became digital in the sense that it was represented in the form of graphics and the like.The preservation of art also is being done with the help of digital media during the postmodernism period. In other words, the art works began to be copied and preserved by the means of digital media. The original meaning of creativity is lost in the postmodern art period. Everything became computerized. Remixes became the order of the day paving for the loss of creativity and originality in the postmodern art period. Also, postmodern art does not believe in the theory of going deep into the subject. In fact, the reliance on technology has grown by leaps and bounds in the postmodern art period. Media influence is seen more in the case of postmodern art. Postmodern art has cut short the traditional method of creating art. With the use of technology, the artists do not take as much time as the earlier artists to finish their creation.
A creation of Lawrence Weiner
Postmodern artists include Barbara Kruger, Jenny Holzer, Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakaim, and Nan Goldin.
What is the difference between Modern Art and Postmodern Art?
• It is believed that the works of modern art had deep meaning. This is due to the fact that the artist gave more importance to the purpose during the times of modern art. On the other hand, during the post modernist era, especially after the advent of computer, art became digital in the sense that it was represented in the form of graphics and the like. This is the main difference between the two words modern art and postmodern art.
• Modern art believed in the theory of going deep into the subject. On the other hand, postmodern art does not believe in the theory of going deep into the subject.
• Media influence is seen more in the case of postmodern art whereas media influence is seen less in the case of modern art.
• In modern art, the artist takes time to make the final production as he goes through the process of making art. However, in postmodern art, artist does not spend as much time as in modern art and uses the aid of technology to increase the speed in which he can work.
• In modern art, you will see actual paintings. However, in postmodern art, you will see that creations include not only painting but sometimes texts. This is something you do not see in modern art.
• While modern art believes in the individual, postmodern art believes that social context matters. Postmodern art does not give that much importance to the individual as modern art does. That is because postmodern art believes that the social context affects the actions of the individual.
These are the differences between modern art and postmodern art.
Images Courtesy:
- Country road in Provence by Night – Vincent van Gogh via Wikicommons (Public Domain)
- A creation of Lawrence Weiner by CC BY-SA 3.0)
