Modern wall art

Modern Wall Art: A Journey Through Time and Expression

Discover Our Modern Wall Art Collection

At Tableaux du Monde, we proudly offer over 300 modern paintings from emerging artists around the globe. Whether you are seeking original artworks or high-quality art reproductions, our modern wall art selection is designed to enrich any decor with contemporary flair and artistic innovation.

Modernism and Contemporary Art Defined

When art historians and critics refer to “modern art,” they typically mean the modernist works from Western artistic movements spanning the 1860s to the 1970s—a period before “postmodernism” took root. In contrast, “contemporary art” generally refers to works created from the end of World War II to the present day. At Tableaux du Monde, all showcased pieces are contemporary, crafted by today’s most talented emerging artists. However, modern art enthusiasts will find an impressive array of contemporary works inspired by modernist movements such as Impressionism, Cubism, Surrealism, and Abstract Expressionism.

The Evolution of Modern Art

Modern art emerged in response to the dramatic changes in social, economic, and cultural life in Europe during the industrial rise of the late 1800s. Artists sought to critique traditional modes of representation—largely religious and allegorical works commissioned by governments—by blending elements from both high and low cultures and incorporating aspects of newly modernized daily life into their works. Modern paintings often abandoned traditional subjects and styles like portraiture, still lifes, and realism in favor of an art for art’s sake approach, focusing on the unique qualities of the medium itself.

Art critic Clement Greenberg posited that modernism aimed to highlight the unique qualities inherent to each artistic medium, emphasizing the flatness that only pigment on a support could achieve. Movements associated with modern wall art, such as Cubism, Surrealism, and Abstract Expressionism, all sought to create a purely optical world existing only on a flat canvas.

Modern Painting Techniques

Modern art spans several movements from the late 1800s to the 1950s. Impressionists broke from traditional painting practices by choosing to paint en plein air and applying thick, wet paint to capture fleeting moments. They focused on urban life’s vibrancy, depicting wanderers and isolated figures in bustling city scenes.

Artists like Henri Matisse used arbitrary but vibrant colors in their compositions, while Cubists like Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque emphasized form over content, creating the illusion of space with flat, abstract planes. Surrealists diverged from the external world, focusing on the subconscious and dream-like scenes but with realistic precision. Abstract compositions, such as the colorful scenes of Wassily Kandinsky and Piet Mondrian’s grids, were also popular as they referred to no real-world objects.

Iconic Modern Artists and Their Works

Edouard Manet is often considered the first modern painter, challenging conventional subjects and styles. His works like “Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe” and “Olympia” combined elements from earlier masterpieces with traditional styles of portraits, still lifes, and landscapes.

Other notable modern painters include Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Vincent van Gogh, and Pablo Picasso, each contributing uniquely to the narrative of modern art.

Explore Modern Wall Art at Tableaux du Monde

Visit Tableaux du Monde to explore our collection of modern wall art. Find the perfect piece to add a touch of artistic sophistication and contemporary style to your home or office. Whether you are drawn to the bold strokes of Abstract Expressionism or the subtle complexities of Surrealism, our selection is sure to inspire and enhance your living space.