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Modern art is referred to as abstract because it doesn’t look like real life. Instead, artists utilize various colors, forms, and shapes to create an effect. Abstract isn’t representational and could be based on a subject or have no source at all. A viewer might think that the artist’s work is an accident and will impact others.

Abstract art goes by many names, including nonobjective art and nonrepresentational art. It can be a painting, sculpture, or even graphic art. 

Key Characteristics

Partial abstraction is the main characteristic of figurative art, while realistic works can also utilize this technique. All abstract artists use various elements to show that reality is subjective.

The main characteristic of abstract art is that it doesn’t follow a standard definition of what it means. Instead, it can be described as a departure from the traditional representation. For instance, the artist takes an entirely different approach to lyrical and geometric abstraction.

In modern society, abstract art is commonly used in social sciences. This is also apparent in the works of philosophy.

A Brief History of Abstract Art

It’s hard to determine when the concept of abstract art emerged. It’s also hard to identify the individuals instrumental in its development. Due to the complexity of the subject, experts debated when the movement started. Many believe that the 1910s was when the concept of abstract art emerged. Others think that the famous painting by Wassily Kandinsky, “The Picture of the Circle,” was the birth of this movement.

Without a historical context, it’s hard to understand the evolution of abstract art. According to experts, the concept emerged during the 19th century, with the influence of Claude Monet and James McNeill. They believe that both artists placed a higher emphasis on visual sensation.

During the 20th century, many artists started to ignore the rules of the current movement and instead created paintings that didn’t refer to reality.

In the early days of the modern art movement, artists started breaking away from the idea of painting as a representation of something. For instance, artists began using different elements instead of normal colors to create an effect.

During this period, artists broke away from the idea that painting should represent something. For instance, artists started using different elements instead of normal colors to create an effect. They noted that the subjects of their works could be the elements of form, texture, and color.