Modern notions of art and color

The development of art is linked to our interest in vision. Modern art emerged in France by artists such as Paul Gauguin(1848-1903), Paul Signac (1863-1935), Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) and Paul Cézanne (1839-1906) in the second half of the 19th century. During the same period, scientists began to explore how we see. The new understanding of vision influenced the development of art and our understanding of it.

With the artistic and scientific revolutions of the 19th century, the tradition of sublime history painting, inspired by political, spiritual or mythological subjects, lost its dominant position. Likewise the unsparing vision of modern portraiture shows an interest in ‘truth’ rather than formal ‘high art’ values, or presenting an ‘image of power’. Artists now engaged with the depiction of modern life with its sometimes less sublime subject matters, which were increasingly depicted in non-naturalistic colors and forms. By the early 20th century, artists such as Henri Matisse (1839-1954) claimed that color and form could only achieve their full potential if they become independent from the objects they depicted. Importantly, modern artists emphasized the view of each individual artist, and hence, vision.

(Webexhibits)