Modernism and Postmodernism in Art

Modernism in art emphasizes innovation, originality, and the rejection of traditional representation, focusing on abstraction, form, and subjective experience. It's often concerned with the idea of progress and the artist's personal vision. In contrast, Postmodernism questions the very concepts of originality and authority, celebrating pluralism and eclecticism. It uses irony, pastiche, and playful approaches to representation, suggesting that meaning is subjective and culturally constructed. Both movements address mimesis—the imitation of reality—yet Modernism seeks to transform it, while Postmodernism often undermines or subverts traditional notions of representation altogether.