Modern art refers to a vast artistic movement that developed mainly from the mid-19ᵉ century until around the 1970s.

This movement profoundly transformed the techniques, styles and subjects explored by artists, marking a break with academic traditions and established artistic conventions.

Here are some general characteristics of modern art:

Exploration of form and technique
Modern artists often experimented with new techniques and ways of representing reality, moving away from traditional techniques of realistic representation.

Rejection of convention
Modern art often questioned the established rules and conventions of art, seeking to break away from academic standards and traditional expectations.

Focus on individual expression
Modern artists often sought to express their emotions, personal experiences and unique perspectives through their art, giving rise to a wide variety of styles and approaches.

Abstraction and symbolism
An important feature of modern art is the development of abstraction, where artists explored non-representational forms and non-figurative compositions. Symbolism was also used to convey complex ideas and emotions.

Innovation and experimentation
Modern art was characterised by a desire for constant innovation and experimentation with new materials, media and artistic ideas. This led to the emergence of diverse movements such as cubism, surrealism, futurism and many others.

Engagement with modern society
Modern artists often reacted to the social, political and technological changes of their time, reflecting these transformations in their art.

The difference between modern and contemporary art lies mainly in their chronological period and their artistic approach:

Chronological period

Modern art
Modern art refers to artistic movements that emerged from the mid-19ᵉ century until around the 1970s. It encompasses movements such as Cubism, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, etc.
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Contemporary art
Contemporary art refers to art created from the 1970s to the present day. It is a term that encompasses a wide variety of artistic styles, approaches and mediums, reflecting the cultural diversity and concerns of contemporary society.
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Artistic approach

Modern art
Modern art was often characterised by a break with academic traditions and established artistic conventions. Modern artists experimented with new techniques, styles and subjects, seeking to capture the rapid changes of modern society and express their own vision of the world.
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Contemporary art
Contemporary art is marked by a plurality of artistic approaches ranging from figurative expression to total abstraction, through the use of various media such as video, installation, performance, etc. Contemporary artists often reflect on current issues such as globalisation, cultural identity, technology, the environment, etc.
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Cultural and historical context

Modern art was strongly influenced by the social, political and technological upheavals of the late 19ᵉ and 20ᵉ centuries, while contemporary art reflects the concerns and challenges of today's globalised and digitalised society.

The key artists of modern art are numerous and contributed significantly to the transformation of artistic practices during the 19ᵉ and 20ᵉ centuries.

Here are some of the most influential artists of this period:

- Pablo Picasso
- Claude Monet
- Andy Warhol
- Henri Matisse
- Marcel Duchamp
- Jackson Pollock
- Wassily Kandinsky
- Joan Miró
- Georges Braque
- Salvador Dalí
- René Magritte
- Alexander Calder
- Hans Hartung
- Anna-Eva Bergman
- Maria Helena Viera de Silva

Here are the most expensive modern art artists in 2023 according to ArtPrice's ‘Top 500 Artists by Auction Proceeds 2023’.

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