Of ‘-isms,’ Institutions, and Radicals

Of ‘-isms,’ Institutions, and Radicals
This painting by Henri Felix Emmanuel Philippoteaux (1815–1884) depicts Lamartine, a reformist, before the Hôtel de Ville in Paris, rejecting the Red Flag on Feb. 25, 1848. The red flag represents terror, blood, and a "party's republic," Lamartine told the crowd. Public Domain
Michael Wing
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For many centuries, classical Western art was transmitted from generation to generation. Masters passed down their skills to disciples, who eventually became masters themselves, and so it continued. Over many generations, their techniques were honed to a high level of perfection.

This tradition lasted up to the 20th century, when it ceased all at once and artistic inheritance was replaced quickly by one “-ism” after another—impressionism, post-impressionism, and cubism, to name a few. What caused this radical transformation, and why is art changing at such a rapid pace today?

Michael Wing
Michael Wing
Editor and Writer
Michael Wing is a writer and editor based in Calgary, Canada, where he was born and educated in the arts. He writes mainly on culture, human interest, and trending news.
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