Following on from our last post, we have another edition of our handy guide to style-spotting. Being able to identify different periods and their features can be a huge asset when picking out pieces to work together or to fit a particular theme or space. This guide should help you spot those features with just a few little pointers.

Pop Art

Probably the most easily recognized of the bunch, Pop Art was an ironic take on the abstract expressionism that had gone before it. Taking everyday items, images, and brands from popular culture and setting them in bright, contrasting colours, like the famous can of Campbell’s soup by Andy Warhol, it put the focus of the art on the working class and their lives and appreciations.

Think loud, popping logos, bold colours, and lots of contrast.

Art Deco

Representing opulence and luxury, <em><strong><a href="https://www.drawdeck.com/catalog/wall-art/" target="_blank">Wall Art</a></strong></em> Deco was a combination of fine craftsmanship, modern techniques and advances, and decadent materials. Bold geometrics coupled with bright colours and smooth, precise lines are the hallmarks of Art Deco, as are expensive and rare materials. Famous examples of Art Deco style include the Chrysler and Empire State Buildings in New York, U.S, and Florin Court in London.

Cubism

Still regarded as one of the most influential art movements of the 20th century, the cubists were based in and around Paris. Cubism is concerned with the distortion created by painting one object in one picture from many points of view. Inspired by the depth and three-dimensional form of the works of Paul Cezanne, it is widely thought that an exhibition of Cezanne’s work being displayed in Paris around that time brought the movement into being.

Wondering where to <em><strong><a href="https://www.drawdeck.com/catalog/art-prints/" target="_blank"> buy art prints</a></strong></em>?Click here!

Pointillism

This is more of a technique than a movement (although a movement was later born from it) and was again developed in France, this time by painters Georges-Pierre Seurat and Paul Signac. These works can be identified by the tiny dots of paint used to create them. The dots are left unblended, leaving the viewer’s eyes to do some work. When inspected closely, the multitude of colours used is often dazzling.

The name was initially coined to mock the movement but it stuck.

Although we haven’t covered every style, a pocket guide never could. We hope you enjoy using this guide to try identifying some works or buildings you’ve come across, or maybe even to try painting a few of these different styles yourself. <em><b><a href="https://www.drawdeck.com/blog/study-form-volume-1-how-understanding-art-forms-can-unlock-world-choices" target="_blank">Click here to know more about How Understanding Art Forms Can Unlock A World of Choices </a></b></em>.