The way that artists depict scenes in art has evolved over time. Over the years, two dominant styles have come to the forefront – the Western and the Eastern style of art. Diving deeper into understanding different painting styles is truly a fascinating study and will give us an insight into the myriad expressions of art, all over the world.
Let us begin with the Western style of art.
The Western-style of painting is seen more nowadays. Abstract painting, modernism, impressionism and some lesser-known forms of art such as surrealism and photorealism form a part of the vast Western form of art.
1. Modernism
Modernism in art is considered the art that was produced during the period between 1860 and 1970. It is a radical way of thinking by the artists of modern-day and age, with no boundaries set by the traditional method holding their creative expression back.
2. Impressionism
This art form originated in Paris in the late 19th century. Some of the features of Impressionism include the use of common and ordinary objects, thin brush strokes, and unusual angles.
3. Abstract Art
Any artistic expression of reality that is illustrated but not in its truest form can be considered as an abstract form of art. It is the true product of radical thought.
4. Expressionism
The abstract style of art takes on many forms and ‘expressionism’ is one of them. The overflow of human emotions is portrayed from the artist’s point of view.
5. Cubism
Paul Cezanne, a famous artist once said – “Everything in nature takes its form from the cylinder, the cone or the sphere.” Interestingly, this later turned into the basis of ‘cubism’. This is another expression of abstract art and geometrical shapes form a very important part of this style.
6. Surrealism
Surrealism was a movement that sprung to light in the 20th century, in France. This art form sought to release the creative potential of the mind, by the irrational juxtaposition of images. The Surrealism cultural movement includes visual art and writing too!
Next up is the Eastern style of art.
The Eastern style of art has been influenced by many cultures all over the world, some of which have emerged significantly. Let us explore the art forms that emerged from the cultures and traditions of the world.
1. Chinese Style
Chinese style of art is considered one of the oldest forms of artistic tradition which also used calligraphy as a part of its technique. Chinese artists would use coloured ink to paint on paper and silk. They never used oil for painting.
2. Japanese Style
The Japanese style to produce a painting only using black ink is amazing! The Japanese style of painting takes inspiration from Chinese, Western and Eastern art.
3. Indian Style
Being a country with diverse culture, the kind of art produced here is diverse ranging from the miniature paintings of the Mughal era to the classical style of the Tanjore paintings.
Mughal Miniature Paintings
The Mughal miniature paintings typically depicted the lifestyle of the kings and princes. The artists were focused on depicting beauty with much attention to detail.
Rajput Paintings
The courts in the Rajput kingdoms had their own distinct painting style. These Rajput paintings were mainly on the themes of romance, devotion, heroism and courtly life.
Tanjore Paintings
Tanjore paintings are considered the most important from South India, due to the usage of rich colour schemes and their attention to minute details.
Madhubani Style
The Madhubani style of art was traditionally created by women in the Mithila region of Bihar. The ancient tradition of wall paintings called Bhitti-Chitra played a major role in the emergence of the Madhubani art form.
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“The artist is not a different kind of person, but every person is a different kind of artist.”
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