
There are several different types of painting styles, which can be classified based on genre, style, medium, period, technique, and purpose. The seven major painting styles, from Impressionism to Photorealism, include Realism, Abstract Expressionism, and Expressionism. Other popular styles include Pointillism, Cubism, Dadaism, Fauvism, and Art Nouveau. Paintings can also be classified by medium, such as oil, acrylic, and watercolour, and by genre, such as portrait, landscape, and still life.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Era | Medieval, Renaissance, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Futurism, Abstract Expressionism, etc. |
| Genre | Landscape, portrait, still life, etc. |
| Medium | Oil, acrylic, watercolour, etc. |
| Period | Contemporary, Baroque, Mannerism, etc. |
| Technique | Plein-air, chiaroscuro, wet-on-dry, wet-on-wet, impasto, etc. |
| Purpose | Decorative, commissioned, religious, etc. |
| Subject matter | Everyday objects, advertising, celebrities, etc. |
| Style | Realism, Expressionism, Fauvism, Abstract, Pop Art, Art Nouveau, etc. |
| Content | Ideal beauty, proportion, balance, etc. |
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What You'll Learn

Impressionism: capturing light, colour, and the 'every day'
Impressionism emerged in the 1880s, primarily in Paris, as a rejection of the academic and historical styles of painting that were popular at the time. Impressionist painters, such as Claude Monet, Pierre-August Renoir, Edouard Manet and Edgar Degas, focused on capturing the beauty of light and colour in everyday scenes. They often painted outdoors to capture their subjects in various lighting conditions, and their works are characterised by quick, gestural brush strokes and wet-on-wet painting techniques.
The Impressionists' bold use of colour and light was made possible by the invention of ready-made paints, which allowed them to work at a faster pace. This new paint meant that artists could step outside of the studio and focus on painting itself, rather than the subject matter. As such, Impressionist paintings often have a loose, free-flowing style with visible brushstrokes.
The Impressionists' interest in capturing fleeting moments, such as sunrises and sunsets, meant that they had to work quickly. This resulted in paintings that, up close, may appear as an illegible set of spots. However, when viewed from a distance, the beauty and splendour of the painting are revealed. This technique was initially unpopular with the public, who were used to viewing paintings up close.
The Impressionist movement marked a shift towards modern themes and away from traditional, historical or mythological depictions. Impressionist painters sought to capture the beauty of everyday life, including domestic, social and recreational activities, and natural environments. This focus on the everyday and the rejection of artistic conventions are also key aspects of Realism, which developed in France in the 1840s.
Overall, Impressionism: capturing light, colour, and the everyday, is a style of painting that emphasises the beauty of fleeting moments and the richness of everyday life. Through their innovative use of colour and light, the Impressionists revolutionised the art world and continue to inspire artists today.
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Cubism: a new reality, rejecting traditional techniques
Cubism, a style of painting that emerged in the 20th century, is often regarded as a revolution in art. This style, which has its roots in European, particularly French, painting and sculpture, challenged traditional techniques and presented a new reality in art.
The Cubist style rejected the traditional methods of perspective, foreshortening, modelling, and chiaroscuro, refuting the long-held belief that art should imitate nature. Instead, Cubist painters embraced the two-dimensional nature of the picture plane, creating paintings that depicted fragmented objects in a way that had never been seen before. This style was not limited to visual arts; it also influenced music, literature, and architecture, showcasing its impact on the broader cultural landscape.
One of the key figures associated with Cubism is Pablo Picasso, whose work significantly shaped this artistic movement. Another notable artist is Georges Braque, whose composition "Houses at l'Estaque" in 1908 is considered a pivotal work in the development of Cubism.
Cubism's departure from traditional techniques and its radical approach to depicting reality opened up new avenues for artistic exploration. It encouraged experimentation with form, colour, and composition, allowing artists to convey emotions, ideas, and abstract concepts in innovative ways. This movement marked a significant shift in the art world, influencing subsequent styles and movements that continue to evolve and challenge artistic boundaries.
While Cubism may have initially faced resistance and criticism, as is common with groundbreaking artistic movements, its impact on art history is undeniable. By challenging traditional techniques and offering a new perspective on reality, Cubism paved the way for a more diverse and expressive artistic landscape, enriching our understanding and appreciation of art.
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Futurism: embracing movement, the future, and ideals
There are numerous painting styles, each with its own distinct characteristics and techniques. These styles include Impressionism, Cubism, Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, Romanticism, Fauvism, and more. Each style reflects the attitudes, beliefs, and artistic approaches prevalent during specific periods and among certain groups of artists.
One such style is Futurism, a dynamic artistic and social movement that emerged in the early 20th century, primarily in Italy. Futurism embraced movement, the future, and ideals, as its name suggests. It celebrated the machine age, glorifying modernity and aiming to liberate Italy from the weight of its past. The movement was influenced by rapid technological advancements, industrialization, and scientific progress.
Key figures of the movement included Italian artists Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, Umberto Boccioni, Carlo Carrà, Fortunato Depero, Giacomo Balla, Gino Severini, and Luigi Russolo. These artists sought to revolutionize culture by capturing the beauty of modern life, emphasizing speed, power, youth, violence, and objects like cars, airplanes, and industrial cities. They developed novel techniques to express motion, including blurring, repetition, and the use of lines of force, adopting the latter from Cubist works.
The Futurists published numerous manifestos to disseminate their aesthetic, political, and social ideals, utilizing new technologies such as advancements in mass media, printing, and transportation to reach a wider audience. They aimed to evoke sensations rather than merely recording appearances, capturing the blur of rushing automobiles, the flicker of electric light, or the fragmentation of figures in motion. This experimental approach laid the groundwork for later movements like Surrealism and influenced various art forms, including photography, film, theatre, and music.
In conclusion, Futurism, as a painting style, embraced movement, the future, and ideals by challenging traditional artistic notions, glorifying modernity, and capturing the dynamic essence of the machine age through innovative techniques and a focus on speed, technology, and youth. Its influence extended beyond visual arts, shaping literature, theatre, music, and popular culture, leaving a lasting impact on modern Western culture.
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Abstract: emphasising non-representational forms, colours, and lines
Abstract art emphasises non-representational forms, colours, and lines. It often departs from recognisable objects or subjects, focusing instead on conveying emotions, ideas, or exploring formal elements of art, such as colour, shape, and texture. Abstract art uses shapes, patterns, and colours to create unique and innovative paintings. It is more concerned with stirring emotions than attempting to represent everyday life.
Abstract Expressionism includes two different painting styles: action painting and colour field. Action painting involves expressive or slashing brush strokes and dripping paint directly onto the canvas, like Jackson Pollock's technique of working quickly and throwing paint. Colour field painting, on the other hand, involves using flat colours to paint large areas with solid colours, as seen in Mark Rothko's work.
Abstract art can be contrasted with figurative realism, which strives to depict subjects accurately and realistically. Realist painters use colour, composition, and subject matter to create portrayals of everyday life. They employ perspective, lighting, and illusion to make their subjects appear real. However, upon close examination, these solid colours reveal themselves as a series of brushstrokes of many colours and values.
Abstract art, therefore, diverges from realism by prioritising non-representational forms and colours to evoke emotions and explore artistic elements rather than striving for accurate depictions of reality.
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Realism: capturing life as it truly is, focusing on honest detail
Realism in art is about capturing life as it truly is, focusing on honest detail. It is a broad term that encompasses a wide spectrum of painting styles, from hyper-realism to work that appears abstract up close but incredibly real from a distance. It also includes surrealism, which blends realistic elements with fantastical ones.
The key to achieving realism in painting is accuracy, specifically in the structure and brightness values of the objects being depicted. This involves paying attention to shapes, proportions, and anatomy, as well as understanding brightness values, also known as tone or value, which refers to how dark or light different parts of a painting are. By using dark and light values effectively, artists can create a three-dimensional illusion on a two-dimensional surface, adding depth to their paintings.
Realism in art emerged as a reaction to Romanticism, which dominated French literature and art in the late 18th century. Artists associated with the Realism movement, such as Gustave Courbet, rejected the idealized and artificial scenes of Romanticism and instead focused on mundane, and often ugly or sordid, subjects. Courbet and his contemporaries capitalized on the common and the everyday, reflecting a renewed interest in the lives of commoners and the rise of leftist politics.
While Realism in painting is often associated with the 19th-century art movement, it has a longer history, especially within Christian art. During the Late Middle Ages, a trend emerged to emphasize the humanity of religious figures, particularly Christ, by portraying him covered in wounds and blood to stimulate meditation on his suffering. This style re-emerged during the Baroque period, especially in Spanish sculpture.
In the 16th century, a fashion for depicting scenes of people working, especially in food markets and kitchens, emerged. Artists such as Pieter Aertsen, Joachim Beuckelaer, and Annibale Carracci created realistic portrayals of working-class life, often giving as much prominence to the food as to the workers themselves. These paintings not only captured the everyday but also developed the genre of landscape art.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several different types of painting styles, including:
- Realism: This style aims to give the viewer a reflection of the real world.
- Impressionism: This style emphasises light and colour, capturing fleeting moments like sunrises and sunsets.
- Post-Impressionism: This style includes artists like Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Cezanne, and emerged after Impressionism.
- Abstract: This style communicates through linework, colours, forms, shapes, and marks, rather than realistically capturing the subject matter.
- Fauvism: This style focuses on the richness of pure colour, with bright and bold colours taking the place of traditional colour choices.
Edouard Manet, Ilya Repin, and Jules Breton are some of the most famous artists of the Realism movement.
Impressionist painters focus on capturing light and colour, often painting outdoors to capture their subjects in various lighting conditions. They work quickly, using quick, gestural brush strokes and wet-on-wet painting techniques.
Post-Impressionism emerged after the Impressionist movement, with artists such as Vincent Van Gogh, Georges Seurat, Paul Gaugin and Paul Cezanne.
Wassily Kandinsky, Hilma Klint, and Clyfford Still are some famous Abstract artists.




































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