Individuals searching for a modern art reproduction should be aware of the many different kinds of art which regularly get classified as "modern." Strictly defined, the "modern art" movement evolved in the 19th century, which is not very recent by conventional standards. Modernism was a explicit rejection of the somber realism that had for so long dominated Western European's artistic thinking. The most seminal moment in the evolution of modernism was the introduction of photography. Once people were empowered with the ability to take snapshots of the real world, artists became free to explore more abstract and subjective ideas. Modern schools included Expressionism, which evolved in Austria and Germany, Impressionism, which grew up in France during the 1860s, and Cubism, which came into its own in the early 1900s. The United States first collectively became "aware" of the modern schools after an art show in 1913, called the Armory Show. Following World War I, modern schools, such as Dadaism and Surrealism, further rejected the tenets of classic art. Following World War II, the United States became home to a host of modern schools, including Pop Art, Abstract Expressionism, Conceptual Art, Performance Art, Minimal Art, and finally, and perhaps inevitably, Postmodern Art. Given the diversity of the modern art movement, collectors may want to focus on one or two schools or perhaps just one or two artists, whether purchasing original works or modern art reproductions. Modern art reproductions signed by the original artists can garner a lot of attention from collectors. Bear in mind that different prints in a single series may be worth different values. A first print, for instance, is generally worth more than a 200th print. |
