Art Movements Flashcards
Ever wanted to sound more intelligent at an art exhibition or museum? Quickly learn the principal artistic genres in the Western canon.
1
Q
Describe:
the Ashcan School.
A
- country of origin: United States
- era: early 20th century
- gritty paintings of urban, lower-class scenes from New York
- notable artists: Robert Henri, Edward Hopper
- notable works: Snow in New York by Robert Henri (1902) and McSorley’s Bar by John Sloan (1912)
2
Q
Describe:
the Art Deco movement.
A
- country of origin: France
- era: 1920s to 1940s
- popular international movement that affected art, architecture, and industrial design; known for bold, geometric designs and strong motion
- notable artists: Norman Bel Geddes, Tamara de Lempicka
- notable works: The Chrysler Building by William Van Alen (1930) and The S.S. Normandie by Adolphe Cassandre (1935)
3
Q
Describe:
the Art Nouveau movement.
A
- countries of origin: France and Germany
- era: turn of the 20th century
- means “new art” in French; known for flowery designs, whiplash curves, natural forms, peacocks, and celebration of women.
- notable artists: Theophile Steinlen, Aubrey Beardsley
- notable works: The Peacock Skirt by Aubrey Beardsley (1892) and Job poster by Alphonse Mucha (1897)
4
Q
Describe:
Abstract Expressionism.
A
- country of origin: United States
- era: 1940s
- emphasized free form, spontaneous creation on large canvases
- notable artists: Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning
- notable works: The Street by Philip Guston (1977) and No. 5 by Jackson Pollock (1948)
5
Q
Describe:
the Surrealism art movement.
A
- country of origin: France
- era: 1920s
- explored irrational, absurd themes through odd juxtapositions
- notable artists: Salvador Dali, Rene Magritte
- notable works: The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali (1931) and Son of Man by Rene Magritte (1964)
6
Q
Describe:
Abstract Art.
A
- country of origin: Germany
- era: early 20th century
- forms of color and shapes that intend to break away from traditional art of physical objects
- notable artists: Wassily Kandinsky, Piet Mondrian
- notable works: On White IIby Wassily Kandinsky (1923) and Composition No. 10 (Pier and Ocean)by Piet Mondrian (1942)
7
Q
Describe:
Baroque art.
A
- country of origin: Italy
- era: 16th century to 18th century
- the main art and architectural movement of the era, encouraged by the Roman Catholic Church; religious themes were expressed and biblical scenes were the core motif
- notable artists: Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Peter Paul Rubens
- notable works: Adoration of the Magiby Peter Paul Rubens (1624) and The E**cstasy of Saint Theresa by Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1652)
8
Q
Describe:
the Bauhaus art movement.
A
- country of origin: Germany
- era: early 20th Century
- school of design based in Weimar and looked down upon by the Nazis; combined art and architecture and emphasized geometric designs and functionality
- notable artists: Walter Gropius and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
- notable works: Staatliches Bauhaus Ausstellung (poster)by Joost Schmidt (1923) and Ashtrayby Marianne Brandt (1924)
9
Q
Describe:
the Brandywine School of art.
A
- country of origin: United States
- era: late 19th century
- style that displayed scenes of adventures and romances
- notable artists: Howard Pyle, Anton Otto Fischer
- Howard Pyle’s Book of Pirates by Howard Pyle (1921) and The Birdwatcher by Anton Otto Fischer (1927)
10
Q
Describe:
Cubism.
A
- country of origin: France
- era: early 20th century
- realistic subjects are broken and reassembled to form a fractured, geometrical look
- notable artists: Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque
- notable works: Woman with a Guitar by Georges Braque (1913) and Les Demoiselles d’Avignon by Pablo Picasso (1907)
11
Q
Describe:
Russian Constructivism.
A
- country of origin: Russia
- era: early 20th century
- tooled art to social purposes; included a cut-paper style to give illiterate citizens a social message
- notable artists: El Lissitzky and Alexander Rodchenko
- notable works: Russian Exhibition Poster in Zurich by El Lissitzky (1929) and Lilya Brik Portrait by Alexander Rodchenko (1924)
12
Q
Describe:
Dada art.
A
- country of origin: Switzerland
- era: early 20th century
- reaction against World War I; rejected traditional art, emphasized shock and self-awareness toward society
- notable artists: Marcel Duchamp and Jean Arp
- notable works: Fountain by Marcel Duchamp (1917) and Nude Descending a Staircase No. 2 by Marcel Duchamp (1912)
13
Q
Describe:
the Expressionism art movement.
A
- country of origin: Germany
- era: early 20th century
- known for taking reality and changing it to express an emotional effect; vivid color and strong lines
- notable artists: Vincent Van Gogh, Edvard Munch
- notable works: The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh (1889) and The Scream by Edvard Munch (1893)
14
Q
Describe:
Futurism.
A
- country of origin: Italy
- era: early 20th century
- an artistic movement similar to Cubism meant to reject old Italian traditions and display power, movement, and machinery
- notable artists: Giacomo Bella, Umberto Boccioni
- notable works: Cyclist by Natalia Goncharova (1913) and Unique Forms of Continuity in Space by Umberto Boccioni (1913)
15
Q
Describe:
the Graffiti style of art.
A
- country of origin: United States
- era: mid-1970s to present
- any type of marking or lettering on public property; known for use of spray paint and bubble letters
- notable artists: Futura 2000, Banksy
- notable works: Obey Giant by Shepard Fairey (1990) and Great Wave Mural by Big City Freaks (2000)