Title: Art in the Age of Early Modernism 1850 to 1900
Course: Art > Section: Encounters

Art in the Age of Early Modernism

An interesting period in art history and a very active time in all the creative arts - most notably literature and music. We will focus on art - click here for a time line for creative arts of this time. Timeline

R.G. Collingwood said that the change that came over painting during the latter half of the nineteenth "was nothing short of revolutionary,” and who could argue? Realists, Impressionists, Expressionists, and Post-Impressionists such as Courbet, Manet, Monet, Munch, Degas, Renoir, Toulouse-Lautrec, Gauguin, Van Gogh, Seurat, and Cezanne all created some of the most celebrated paintings in history.

Recognizing the Realist style.

Look carefully at the four art works presented. Decide which one represents the Realist style.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

- painting #1
Feedback: The correct answer is painting #4. This one is is in the Impressionist style. Let's take another look at the realist style.
- painting #2
Feedback: The correct answer is painting #4. This one is is in the Post Impressionist style. Let's take another look at the realist style.
- painting #3
Feedback: The correct answer is painting #4. This one is is in the Expressionistic style. Let's take another look at the realist style.
- painting #4
Feedback: You are right! this was a tricky question as this is actually one of Manet's works and he is usually associated with the Impressionists. This particular work shows bridging between Realism & Impressionism. Let's take a closer look at Impressionism and Post impressionism.

A closer look at the Realist Style

Choose the Realist style

Choose the painting that represents the Realist style.

1 | 2 | 3

- painting #1
Feedback: The correct answer is #2 - it is by Courbet. This one is an Impressionist style. Lets take a look at a comparison of Impressionism and Post Impressionism
- painting #2
Feedback: Good for you!! Lets take a look at a comparison of Impressionism and Post Impressionism
- painting #3
Feedback: The correct answer is #2 - it is by Courbet. This one is a Post Impressionistic style. Lets take a look at a comparison of Impressionism and Post Impressionism

Impressionism/Post Impressionism

Take a look at this video to help you understand these periods of art and their particular characteristics.

Post Impressionist Artists

Two artists whose artworks demonstrated the Post-Impressionists are:

- Seurat & Cezanne
Feedback: Good for you!
- Cezanne & Manet
Feedback: Lets try another one. The correct answer is Seurat & Cezanne
- Degas & Munch
Feedback: Lets try another one. The correct answer is Seurat & Cezanne

Recognize Artist & Style

1 | 2 | 3

- Painting # 1 is by Claude Monet and the style is Impressionist
Feedback: Awesome! You are really learning about the artists and their style!
- Painting #2 is by Paul Gauguin and is in the style of Realists.
Feedback: You are right that this painting is by Paul Gauguin, but the style is Post Impressionist.
- Painting #3 is by Gustave Courbet and the style is Impressionist
Feedback: You are right that this painting is by Gustave Courbet, but this is in the style of Realism.

Find the Impressionist paintings

You are given a number of paintings to examine. Two of them are Impressionist - please identify the correct ones.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

- Paintings 2 & 4 are Impressionist
Feedback: Wonderful work!
- Paintings 1 & 2 are Impressionist
Feedback: You are right that #2 is Impressionist - #1 is from the Canadian Group of Seven. Lets take another look at this.
- Paintings 4 & 5 are Impressionist
Feedback: You are right that #4 is Impressionist - #5 is a later style known as Expressionism. Lets take another look at this.
- Paintings 3 & 4 are Impressionist
Feedback: You are right that #4 is Impressionist - #3 is a later style known as Expressionism. Lets take another look at this.

The Expressionist Style

Classic Expressionism

The Scream is a classic representation of the Expressionistic style. Who is the artist?

- Vincent Van Gogh
Feedback: Not this time. This is likely Edvard Munch's most famous work.
- Edvard Munch
Feedback: You bet! A famous work of art!
- Henri Matisse
Feedback: No, this one is not his work. This is likely Edvard Munch's most famous work.

More than one style

An artist who produced works that could be classified as both Post Impressionist and Expressionist was

- Vincent Van Gogh
Feedback: Terrific - you are correct! Lets wrap up this lesson with s delightful video on the works of Vincent Van Gogh
- Claude Monet
Feedback: The artist is Vincent Van Gogh. Lets take another look at his works.
- Edvard Munch
Feedback: The artist is Vincent Van Gogh. Lets take another look at his works.
- Henri Matisse
Feedback: The artist is Vincent Van Gogh. Lets take another look at his works.

Wrapping up with the works of Vincent Van Gogh

Impressionsim

Post Impressionism

Match Artistic Style to Painting

For each of the paintings given, match to the correct artistic style.

1 | 2 | 3

- Good for you!
- The correct answers are: #1 Realism #2 Impressionism #3 Post Impressionism Let's take a look at Expressionism
- Painting #1
Feedback: Realism
- Painting #2
Feedback: Impressionism
- Painting #3
Feedback: Post Impressionism