Modernism and Postmodernism

The interpretation of these phenomena in science is ambiguous, generally speaking, modernism understood as artistic practices (cubism, futurism, abstractionism, surrealism, etc.) which developed in the beginning of the XX century and lasted until World War II. Postmodernism embraces all artistic movements that developed after the Second World War. The essence of artistic modernism and postmodernism are fundamentally different.

Modernism indicates the set of diverse and controversial art movements in the world of art of the last century. The energy of Modigliani, Picasso, and others modernist artists, was aimed at developing an adequate artistic look of the era; it was like a cast into the future. Modernism was building its artistic symbolism, without referring directly to reality, which led eventually to the establishment of new relations between people and the world. Then came Postmodernism, which in art, is often referred to as a new classic or a new classicism, referring to the interest in the artistic past of mankind. In this case the prefix "post" is interpreted as a symbol of liberation from the dogmas and the stereotypes of modernism. It has given modern art an infinite variety of styles and an absolute freedom of expression.

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Butler, C. (2010) Modernism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Butler, C. (2002) Postmodernism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Images:

Picasso, P. (1919) Guitar, Bottle, Bowl with Fruit, and a Glass on Table [Online]. Available at: http://www.pablopicasso.org/pablo-picasso-painting-gallery3.jsp (Accessed 16 April 2012). 
Warhol, A. (1987) Moonwalk [Online]. Available at: http://www.warhol.org/collection/art/Work/1998-1-2502-2/ (Accessed 26 April 2012).