How does Modern Art Compare to Classical?

Classical art and modern art are very different from one another.  Classical art sets the standard for creative beauty and has an influence that spans centuries. It was also revered for telling stories and tales. Modern art, on the other hand, is rebellious and pushes the boundaries of expression.

How Modern Artwork Differs From Classical Art

Modern artwork tends to contain way brighter colours, with bold and contrasting tones that help to add a great deal of visual interest. Graphic design has a huge part to play here, too. Since we entered the digital age, more and more people are experimenting with eye-catching designs that grab and hold a person’s attention. This is quite evident within the gaming sector, where classical themes are often explored as a way to transport gamers to a different world. If you play Paddy Power Slingo, for example, you will notice several graphic designs that tell the story of the game being displayed. Even games with a classic theme, such as Slingo Centurion and Slingo Cleopatra, have bright designs, which shows that modern graphics aren’t just building on classical themes: they’re integrating them. As time goes on, modern art and classical art are melding together to create stunning visual representations that help to keep art relevant. 

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Many artists have even gone as far as to reinvent classical art pieces, such as reimagining Starry Night by Da Vinci. Whether it’s by adding humorous elements, or by turning it into a 3D digital copy, people are using classical art to push the limits of modern art.

Modern Artists Are Rebelling Against Classical Standards

Although it is evident that modern art is embracing classical standards, at the same time it is also actively rebelling against them. The parameters for classical art went on for centuries, but modern art is changing the scene. The classical period lasted for hundreds of years, and it was revisited in the Renaissance and Neoclassical periods. With that being said, the modern art movement only lasted a century. It did, however, lead to significant changes across the world, as new techniques moved with the times. This included new paints being released, along with different ways to sculpt marble and stone.

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One thing to take note of here is that art is, and always will be, an expression. Classical art expressed a need at the time, through sobering images and relatable paintings that people loved. As the modern movement ushered in, people started to crave something different. Pablo Picasso is an example of a modern artist who pushed the boundaries, by using sharp geometric patterns to convey human emotion. He took complex paintings and turned them into something simple because it’s what people wanted and needed at the time.

Art will always be influenced by our changing preferences. This, in some ways, means that classical art could make a comeback and that the current art movement could soon be in the past. Artistic influences are all around us too, so even though the times are moving on from certain art periods, it’s safe to say that they will always be a huge part of our world.