What is Modern Art? Learning to See, Learning to Appreciate, Learning to Express

Modern art refers to artistic works produced from the 1860s to about the 1970s.

The traditions of the past have been thrown aside in a spirit of experimentation. New techniques were tried.

Art became « abstracted ». This was a new way of seeing. Art was more than just « pretty pictures to hang on the wall ».

Modern art began with artists such as Van Gogh, Cezanne and Toulouse-Lautrec.

It continued past the year 1900 with artists like Matisse…

And Pablo Picasso…

At first, this art was very upsetting for the people. Now, impressionism and modern art are often more valued than classical art.

The world's highest price for a work of art is Jackson Pollock's No. 5, 1948 privately sold for $151.2 million dollars.

Your turn… 3 centres: 1) Go through the paintings on the floor, and put them into 2 piles: Modern Art (more abstract) and Classical Art (more realistic) 2) Do a search on 2 of these Modern artists. Create a collage of their work: Fernand Leger, Paul Klee, Henri Matisse, Joan Miro, Pablo Picasso. 3) Choose one of the photocopied artworks on the table. Do a search on the artist and examine the colours used. Copy it or use your own colours to complete it.