SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

A survey course on well known art styles

Have you ever been at a museum and had no idea what you were looking at? With so many different artistic movements and styles, it can be hard to keep track of who painted what and during what time period. Not to worry, we have a guide that will help you impress even the most extreme art lovers. For now, let’s take it slow and start from the 19th century. Here are some major eras in the history of art along with their key elements and influential artists.

Impressionism

Impressionism was developed in France during the late 19th century into the early 20th century. Impressionistic works were mainly produced between 1867 and 1886. This style focuses on small, loose brush strokes, unblended or relative color and bright, natural light. Pure Impressionism avoids the use of black and emphasizes painting outdoors. Impressionist paintings often depict the scene as sort of blurry, as if the artist only glanced at it for a moment or was squinting their eyes.