The Impressionist movements emerged in France in the 1860s after the Realism movement. Artists started painting what they saw around them, especially the effect of light, which is seen by the loose and visible brushstrokes that make Impressionism so recognizable. Often painted outside, thanks to the invention of tubed paint, were landscapes, urban life and, everyday scenes.
Post-Impressionism was developed as a continuation/reaction of Impressionism and focused more on personal expression. Its artists used bolder colours, thicker paint, more abstract shapes and patterns, and the paintings are often made to convey the artist’s emotions instead of simply showing the observed world around them.
Art Nouveau was an international decorative art movement that is mostly featured outside of paintings. It was popular in architecture, interior design, illustrations, furniture and some paintings too. Art nouveau is mostly inspired by nature elements like plants and flowers and aimed to break the boundaries between fine (works displayed and addmired) and applied (for commercial use) arts.
Expressionism emerged in Germany in the early 20th century in part as a reaction to impressionism. Similarly to Post-Impressionism, Expressionism focuses on the artist's inner feelings and emotions, and not on the external reality. It is recognizable by its use of bold and exaggerated colors and lines, and distorted forms to express different emotions like anger, fear and alienation.
The Surrealist movement explored to unlock the continuous mind. Influenced by psychoanalysis, it explores dreams and the subconscious and uses irrational imagery and a mix of realism and fantastical to represent it, which makes surrealist artworks very recognizable. Artists used techniques like automatism to create, sometimes, uncanny artworks that represent the weirdness of dream.
Abstract expressionism was developed in New York and was the first big American art movement to be known worldwide. The movement is recognized by the large scale of everything involving it like large canvases, large and spontaneous brushstrokes, and big and intense emotions. Different techniques were used like dripping and throwing paint, or the exploration of different colors.
Pop Art emerged in the UK and in the US as a reaction to post war consumer culture. It took inspiration from popular culture like comic books, television and advertising, and artists represented everyday objects in their art. Pop art challenged the view on fine art by incorporating imagery from popular culture. The use of bold colors and collages is what makes it so recognizable today.
Part of the Contemporary art period, Street Art evolved from the early stages of graffiti and is known for its public engagement, often being done on exterior walls, bridges and highway overpasses, often done illegally. It often has some sort of political or social theme, its purpose being to provoque its audience. Street art can be done with numerous materials, the most popular beign stencils, aerosol cans and paint.
