What is the Difference Between Modern and Contemporary Art?

The difference between modern and contemporary art lies in their respective timeframes, artistic styles, and focus. While both terms are used to describe art created after a certain period, they have distinct characteristics:

• Modern Art: Generally refers to art created between the 1860s (or 1880s) and the late 1960s or early 1970s. Modern art is often characterized by its break from traditional values and conventions, as well as its focus on aesthetics and the artist's individual vision. Key movements within modern art include Impressionism, Cubism, Expressionism, and Surrealism.
• Contemporary Art: Refers to art created from the late 1940s up to the present day. Contemporary art is characterized by a rejection of traditional values and conventions, and an embrace of abstraction, experimentation, and new media. It often explores themes of social commentary, politics, and identity, and is created by living artists. Contemporary art is also more open-ended in terms of its date range and encompasses a wider variety of styles and mediums, including painting, sculpture, photography, video art, and technology-based art.

In summary, modern art typically refers to works created between the mid-19th and mid-20th centuries, while contemporary art refers to works created from the late 1940s onwards. Both styles are characterized by a rejection of traditional values and experimentation, but contemporary art is more focused on the art of the moment and often includes a wider range of styles, mediums, and artistic movements.

Comparative Table: Modern vs Contemporary Art

Modern art and contemporary art are two distinct periods in the history of art, with modern art beginning in the 1880s and lasting up to the 1960s, while contemporary art developed after the 1960s and is still an emerging form of art. Here is a table highlighting the differences between modern and contemporary art:

Some key differences between modern and contemporary art include the focus on expression of individuality in modern art, while contemporary art concentrates on social impact and society as the primary focus. Additionally, modern art primarily used canvas as a medium, whereas contemporary art explores a broader spectrum of mediums, such as object design, tech-enabled artwork, and graphical arts.