Surrealism is a literary and artistic movement that appeared in France in 1924, written by André Breton. It can be translated as "above realism" or "more than real".It is a dictation of thought, where reason and aesthetic or moral concerns must be erased. For Breton, surrealism is justified by a desire for emancipation: by freeing the unconscious to reconcile it with the conscious, humanity will be able to free itself from the constraints imposed by logic and reason. The artists and writers will therefore be inspired by the Dada movement, as well as the theses of Sigmund Freud, and the works of the Symbolists, in particular those of Gustave Moreau and Odilon Redon. In literature, this approach will manifest itself in curious experiments, such as automatic writing or the exquisite corpse. In art, different currents will stand out: we speak of organic surrealism (Joan Miro, André Masson, Max Ernst), for those who use automatic techniques to free their creative imagination, or dreamlike surrealism (Salvador Dali, René Magritte) for those who use traditional techniques to represent surrealistic subjects (visions, dreams, hallucinatory scenes, impulses, fears, phobias, desires…). Surrealism has a face: that of Dali and his mustaches, but it also has emblematic works in different mediums, such as the sculptures of Alberto Giacometti (Woman with the Cut Throat, Hands holding the Void ...), or the photographs of Man Ray (Black and White, Violin d'Ingres, The Gift…). The Swiss artist Meret Oppenheim for her part composed with these different mediums (sculptures, photographs, ready-mades) to transcribe with poetry the extent of this current. The recurring themes and symbols of surrealism are: unexpected encounters, incongruous juxtapositions, dehumanizing masks (African, gas or industrial), the praying mantis (embodying fear of women), as well as puns (especially between the title of the work and its composition) and other visual puns, such as the famous “This is not a pipe” by Belgian René Magritte.
Explore all styles and all painting techniques: contemporary paintings, street art, abstract art, figurative art, landscapes, portraits, still lifes, nudes, watercolor, oil painting, acrylic painting… Artmajeur is for everyone artistic sensibilities and celebrates beauty by your side for 20 years with more than 2 million contemporary works of art to discover ... or acquire! The world benchmark for contemporary paintings. Discover works by contemporary artists from around the world to decorate your interior with class! Simple art lover or confirmed collector? Find the favorite canvas or painting that will truly enhance your decoration. Artmajeur offers you original works, limited editions and art prints by the best contemporary artists in the world. On Artmajeur, the paintings are selected by enthusiasts and experts in the art market. We select for you the original works of trendy, award-winning and recognized painters as well as new rising values in the field of contemporary art to guide you and help you in your process of buying paintings online.
So you've decided to buy a pastel painting online rather than an acrylic or oil canvas for example. You have in mind a list of questions to check.
You need to filter the massive offer on the web and think about what kind of room it will go in.
If you are looking for a unique pastel to enhance your bedroom, living room or dining room, why not buy a pastel-based artwork? You can get pastels in a variety of different styles, colors and sizes. The type of canvas used as well as the paper used will also affect the price. Pastels are a nice bright alternative to more traditional paints.
A pastel painting is a type of artwork that utilizes many shades to create depth and beauty. It is an art form which uses light colors, like white or pink, on the picture's surface in order to manipulate lighting as well as space, so they can bring out objects' features without relying heavily upon black pigment for detail. It also has the advantage of being able to be easily blended with other pigments if necessary because it dries quickly after application onto paper or fabric.
Another benefit to buying a pastel painting is that they are not affected by weather conditions. The pigment is very sensitive to changes in temperature and moisture, so a painting in a hot attic is not going to look the same way it would in a cold basement. The weight of the canvas will also affect how the painting will age. The heavier it is, the older it will be.
The best quality of pastels used for painting is the dried-out pastels. They are available in a variety of colors and thicknesses. Dried-out pastels can still be used on canvas, but the artist needs to get the right thickness in order to get the best finish.
When you buy a painting artwork online, you will also need to know how to properly hang your canvas. Many artists will recommend that you first mount your canvas to the wall before hanging it. This ensures that the painting stays in the upright position.
If you buy a painting that is a bit short on the thick side, you should make sure that you hang the canvas in a way that does not put stress on the canvas. For example, when you are hanging a painting on your kitchen wall, you should not try to prop the canvas up on its end. This can damage the canvas. You should also avoid hanging your artwork too close to a radiator. This can cause discoloration on the back of the canvas.
The weight of your artwork is very important to consider when buying artwork online. If you are buying from any website, you will want to make sure that the shipping is reasonable. It is wise to find the weight of the canvas before paying for anything.
Overall, buying a painting online made with pastel is an excellent artsy choice. Pastels have been around for centuries and are well accepted by most art connoisseurs. This makes them a great way to buy a painting online, and there are many styles to choose from. Pastels are a wonderful medium to use when you are buying a painting because they look nice and are very easy to use. As long as you make sure that you are getting a high quality painting with a guarantee, then you should have no problems getting the perfect piece for you.
A pastel painting is one of the most popular types of art in recent years. Pastels are made from a mixture of chalk, pigments and water on paper or fabric. They can usually be found as drawings with beautiful colors that make people feel good.
A person might think they've seen every type possible for an artwork when viewing a pastel painting, but there's always something new popping up, like this trend where artists add gold leafing around their edges which really makes these pieces stand out!
If you browse the web on your free time, you will view a large offer that you will need to filter according to your color taste and a price range.
Here is a set of questions to check to help you make your final decision
At Artmajeur, you can view and buy a unique artwork among thousands of pastel paintings online and request information to our support team for any subject.
Contemporary art is a vibrant constellation of artistic expressions. This creative universe encompasses a wide array of mediums, from paintings, sculpture, and photography to drawing, printmaking, textile art, and digital art, each medium a star shining with its own distinct radiance. Artists use diverse supports and materials to bring their visions to life, such as canvas, wood, metal, and even innovative digital canvases for the creation of virtual masterpieces.
A contemporary painting, for instance, may weave its story through the masterful strokes of acrylic or oil, while a contemporary sculpture might sing its song in the language of stone, bronze, or found objects. The photographic arts capture and manipulate light to produce striking images, while printmaking employs techniques like lithography and screen-printing to produce multiples of a single, impactful image. Textile art plays with fabrics and fibers, whereas digital art pushes the boundaries of creation with innovative technology.
The allure of contemporary art lies in its boundary-pushing nature, its relentless quest for experimentation and its constant reflection of the evolving human experience. This boundless creativity, coupled with its strong social and personal commentary, makes every piece of contemporary art a unique emblem of its time, a mirror held up to the realities and dreams of our complex world. It whispers to us, moves us, provokes thought, and kindles a deep emotional response, stirring the soul of anyone willing to listen. It is, indeed, the language of emotions and ideas, spoken in the dialect of our era.
The story of contemporary art unfolds in the mid-20th century, marked by seismic shifts in artistic expression. Post-World War II, around the 1950s and 1960s, artists began experimenting beyond traditional confines, challenging the norms of what art could be. This revolutionary epoch birthed myriad new movements and artistic forms such as abstract expressionism, pop art, and minimalism. Paintings, once confined by realism, embraced abstraction, as artists used color and form to express emotions and ideas. Notable periods like the advent of pop art in the late 1950s and early 1960s saw artworks mimicking popular culture and mass media, reflecting society’s shifting focus.
The sculptural arts, too, witnessed a metamorphosis. Sculptors started to experiment with new materials and forms, often creating artworks that interacted with the viewer and the surrounding space, fostering a sense of engagement. Drawing, a timeless practice, also evolved, with artists incorporating innovative techniques and concepts to redefine its role in contemporary art.
Photography, a relatively new medium, emerged as a powerful tool in the contemporary art landscape. Born in the 19th century, it truly came into its own in the latter half of the 20th century, blurring the lines between fine art and documentation. Printmaking, a practice dating back to ancient times, saw renewed interest and experimentation with techniques like lithography, etching, and screen printing gaining prominence.
The realm of textile art expanded dramatically, as artists began to appreciate the versatility and tactile quality of fabric and fibers. Artists began using textiles to challenge the boundaries between fine art, craft, and design.
The dawn of digital technology in the late 20th century heralded a new age for contemporary art. Digital art emerged as artists started leveraging new technologies to create immersive, interactive experiences, often blurring the line between the virtual and the physical world.
Through these transformative periods, the essence of contemporary art has remained the same: a dynamic, evolving reflection of the times we live in, continually pushing boundaries and embracing the new, always questioning, always exploring.
As we navigate through the 21st century, the dynamic landscape of contemporary art continues to evolve and expand, reflecting our ever-changing world. Contemporary paintings, once primarily confined to two-dimensional canvases, now embrace a multitude of forms and techniques, ranging from mixed media installations to digital creations, each piece a rich a weaving of thoughts, emotions, and narratives. Sculpture, too, has ventured far beyond traditional stone and bronze, with artists incorporating light, sound, and even motion, embodying the ephemerality and flux of the modern world.
Photography, in the hands of Contemporary Artists, has expanded its horizons, seamlessly blending with digital technology to create breathtaking imagery that challenges our perception of reality. Drawing, as well, has transcended the borders of paper, incorporating multimedia elements and exploratory techniques to redefine its role in the artistic discourse. Printmaking continues to flourish, with contemporary artists using traditional methods in innovative ways to deliver potent social and personal commentaries.
Textile art, once considered a craft, now holds a prominent place in the contemporary art world, with artists using it to explore issues of identity, tradition, and cultural heritage. Meanwhile, digital art, the newest member of the contemporary art family, has revolutionized the way we create and interact with art, presenting immersive experiences that blur the boundary between the virtual and the physical.
These diverse forms of contemporary art hold significant value in the current art market, not only due to their aesthetic appeal but also their ability to encapsulate and communicate complex ideas and emotions. Collectors, curators, and art lovers worldwide seek these works, drawn to their inherent dynamism, their innovative use of materials, and their eloquent expressions of our shared human experience. As a testimonial to our times, these contemporary artworks encapsulate the pulse of our society and the resonance of individual voices, forever etching our collective narrative into the annals of art history.
As we delve into the vibrant realm of contemporary art, we encounter an array of artists who shape this dynamic field. Each a master in their medium - painting, sculpture, photography, drawing, printmaking, textile, or digital art - they push artistic boundaries, reflecting our era and challenging perceptions. Let’s explore these remarkable contributors and their groundbreaking works.
1. Gerhard Richter - Known for his multi-faceted approach to painting, Richter challenges the boundaries of the medium, masterfully oscillating between abstract and photorealistic styles. His works, whether featuring squeegee-pulled pigments or blurred photographic images, engage in a fascinating dialogue with perception.
2. Jeff Koons - A significant figure in contemporary sculpture, Koons crafts monumental pieces that explore themes of consumerism, taste, and popular culture. His iconic balloon animals, constructed in mirror-polished stainless steel, captivate with their playful yet profound commentary.
3. Cindy Sherman - An acclaimed photographer, Sherman uses her lens to explore identity and societal roles, particularly of women. Renowned for her conceptual self-portraits, she assumes myriad characters, pushing the boundaries of photography as a medium of artistic expression.
4. David Hockney - Hockney, with his prolific output spanning six decades, is a pivotal figure in contemporary drawing. His bold use of color and playful exploration of perspective convey an intoxicating sense of joy and an unabashed celebration of life.
5. Kiki Smith - An innovative printmaker, Smith’s work explores the human condition, particularly the female body and its social and cultural connotations. Her etchings and lithographs speak to universal experiences of life, death, and transformation.
6. El Anatsui - A master of textile art, Anatsui creates stunning tapestry-like installations from discarded bottle caps and aluminum scraps. These shimmering, flexible sculptures blend traditional African aesthetic with contemporary art sensibilities, speaking to themes of consumption, waste, and the interconnectedness of our world.
7. Rafael Lozano-Hemmer - A leading figure in digital art, Lozano-Hemmer utilizes technology to create interactive installations that blend architecture and performance art. His work, often participatory in nature, explores themes of surveillance, privacy, and the relationship between people and their environments.
The contemporary art landscape is a dynamic patchwork of diverse expressions and groundbreaking ideas, each artwork a unique dialog with its audience. Here are a selection of some renowned contemporary artworks, spanning various media such as painting, sculpture, photography, drawing, printmaking, textile art, and digital art, that have profoundly influenced this vibrant movement.
"Cloud Gate" by Anish Kapoor, 2006 - This monumental stainless steel sculpture, also known as "The Bean," mirrors and distorts the Chicago skyline and onlookers in its seamless, liquid-like surface, creating an interactive experience that blurs the line between the artwork and the viewer.
"Marilyn Diptych" by Andy Warhol, 1962 - An iconic piece of pop art, this silkscreen painting features fifty images of Marilyn Monroe. Half brightly colored, half in black and white, it reflects the dichotomy of celebrity life and its influence on popular culture.
"Rhein II" by Andreas Gursky, 1999 - This photographic artwork, a digitally-altered image of the Rhine River, is celebrated for its minimalist aesthetic. It strips the landscape to its bare essentials, invoking a sense of tranquility and vastness.
"Black Square" by Kazimir Malevich, 1915 - A revolutionary painting in the realm of abstract art, this piece, featuring nothing more than a black square on a white field, challenges traditional notions of representation, symbolizing a new era in artistic expression.
"Puppy" by Jeff Koons, 1992 - This giant sculpture, a West Highland Terrier blanketed in flowering plants, explores themes of innocence, consumer culture, and the interplay between high art and kitsch. It’s a delightful blend of traditional sculpture and garden craft.
"Re-projection: Hoerengracht" by Ed and Nancy Kienholz, 1983-1988 - A room-sized tableau representing Amsterdam’s red-light district, this work combines elements of sculpture, painting, lighting, and found objects. It engages viewers in a stark commentary on commodification and objectification.
"Untitled" (Your body is a battleground) by Barbara Kruger, 1989 - This photomontage, combining black-and-white photography with impactful text, explores issues of feminism, identity, and power. Its potent, confrontational message is a prime example of the power of text in contemporary visual art.
"For the Love of God" by Damien Hirst, 2007 - This sculpture, a platinum cast of a human skull encrusted with 8,601 diamonds, probes themes of mortality, value, and the human fascination with luxury and decadence. It’s a compelling blend of macabre and magnificence.
"Physical impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living" by Damien Hirst, 1991 - This artwork, featuring a tiger shark preserved in formaldehyde, blurs the line between traditional sculpture and biological specimen. It prompts viewers to contemplate mortality and nature’s ferocity.
"One and Three Chairs" by Joseph Kosuth, 1965 - A piece of conceptual art, it presents a physical chair, a photograph of a chair, and a dictionary definition of a chair, thus exploring the relationship between language, picture, and referent in art.
These pieces, in their diversity, exemplify the rich tapestry of contemporary art, each piece a unique commentary on our world and a testament to the limitless potential of creative expression.
