Entering the art world can be intimidating, but there’s no shame in being a newbie. Classic art isn’t just for collectors with millions of dollars at their disposal. There’s a lot you can learn from studying different art styles.
Part of studying various types of art is learning about technique. The techniques an artist uses to produce their work is called style. There are countless different styles of art, but we’ll discuss the most recognizable art styles over the centuries. Learning to differentiate between the types of art will help you develop your own taste in art.
So, what are the different styles of art? At Redbubble, our independent artists share artwork from every art style, so we’ve pulled together a list of art styles. Combine this knowledge with your aesthetic and order some great wall art to accessorize your space, or pull out your paints and experiment with a new style.
Table of Contents:
- Abstract
- Baroque
- Contemporary
- Expressionism
- Figurative
- Geometric
- Impressionism
- Installation
- Land art
- Minimalism
- Neo-Impressionism
- Neoclassicism
- Pop Art
- Portraiture
- Realism
- Rococo
- Still Life
- Surrealism
- More art styles
1. Abstract Expressionism
Asleep in the Desert designed and sold by dansedelune
While expressionism ended during the 1920s, it returned in the 1940s and 1950s in the form of Abstract Expressionism, an avant-garde movement. Influenced by the tragedy of the Great Depression and the horrific atrocities of World War II, painters of this era felt unable to continue painting beautiful portraits and landscapes. The ideals of expressionism blended with cubism and surrealism to express the trauma of the previous decades and a sense of anxiety about the future.
Style:
- Action painting
- Paint applied through splashing and dripping
- Wild, unrefined brushstrokes
- Color field painting
- Large areas of a single color
- Simple design
- Focus on evoking intense feelings and spiritual contemplation
Dates: 1940s to 1950s
Famous Artists:
- Jackson Pollock
- Mark Rothko
- Willem de Kooning
- Barnett Newman
2. Baroque
Dog Portrait designed and sold by carpo17
Baroque art challenged the Renaissance artistic ideal of perfection in response to the upheaval in Europe caused by the Protestant Reformation and the Thirty Years War. Portraits and religious scenes were popular, but landscapes, still lifes, and history paintings became increasingly common.
Style:
- Dramatic motion
- Clear detail
- Bizarre irregularity
- Stark contrasts
- Tension
- Drama
- Dramatic lighting
- Dark backgrounds and shadows
- Deep colors
Dates: early 1600s to mid-1700s
Famous artists:
- Gian Lorenzo Bernini
- Annibale Carracci
- Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio
- Johannes Vermeer
3. Contemporary
Desert Eye designed and sold by Charles Harker
Contemporary art is difficult to define because it refers to art that reflects the state of the world at the time in which it was created. So for us today, we could refer to any piece of artwork created in the 2020s as contemporary art, while artists living in the 1970s would consider art created in the 1970s to be contemporary.
Style:
- Reflection of issues and values of the time it was created
- Pushing the boundaries of what “art” was during the era in which it was created
- Challenging assumptions of the time period
- Experimentation with color and mediums
Dates: applies to works whose artists are still living, first used in the 1960s
Famous Artists:
- Banksy
- Yayoi Kusama
- David Kracov
- Jeff Koons
4. Expressionism
Arbracosmos designed and sold by Exit Man
Inspired by the alienation experienced at the turn of the century, art during this period focused less on depicting reality and more on expressing emotions. Popular artists explored the ideas of self, sexuality, nature, and mysticism in their works, though the specific styles varied by country.
Style:
- Distorted images
- Exaggerated depictions of reality
- Vivid color
- Sense of intensity
Dates: 1905 to 1920
Famous Artists:
- Vincent Van Gogh
- Wassily Kandinsky
- Edvard Munch
- Henri Matisse
5. Figurative
Portrait of Alysha designed and sold by Roz McQuillan
Figurative art is considered the opposite of abstract art. The figure of the subject, whether it is a person or an inanimate object, is true to life. However, some figurative artists may keep the figure realistic while opting for imaginative colors. For example, a figurative painting may depict what looks like a zebra from the real world, yet it is purple and yellow instead of black and white.
Style:
- Realistic figures
- Three-dimensionality and depth of subjects
Dates: popular throughout history, but was prominent during the Renaissance, mannerism, and baroque periods
Famous Artists:
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Caravaggio
- El Greco
- Jan van Eyck
6. Geometric
Geometric Compilation in Rose Gold and Blush Pink designed and sold by UrbanEpiphany
Geometric art is characterized by geometric shapes rather than the organic, natural shapes seen in nature. A geometric work can focus on one geometric shape or several combined for visual interest. It is often a component of abstract art or cubism.
Style:
- Abstract
- Colorful
- Frequently futuristic
- Mathematical precision of geometric shapes
Dates: popular throughout history but most prominent during the art styles of the 20th and 21st century
Famous Artists:
- Wassily Kandinsky
- Piet Mondrian
- Gustav Klimt
- Diego Rivera
7. Impressionism
Diminuendo Shore designed and sold by scotnaismith
Born as an avant-garde movement and widely panned at the time, impressionism is now one of the most popular art styles, with famous works selling for millions. The works featured landscapes and depictions of everyday urban life, and artists ditched their studios to paint their subjects in the real world.
Style:
- Visible brushstrokes
- Focus on light and movement
- Rapid brushstrokes
Dates: mid-1860s to mid-1880s
Famous Artists:
- Claude Monet
- Edgar Degas
- Pierre Auguste Renoir
- Camille Pissarro
8. Installation
A Cloud Over the Forest designed and sold by josemanuelerre
Unlike other art styles, installation art is conceptual rather than something that is set down on paper or canvas. Instead, installations are built specifically for a site, are larger than any other type of art, and involve mixed media. Its surroundings are often incorporated into the art itself.
Style:
- Large scale
- Mixed media
- Multi-sensory experience to fully immerse the viewer in the work
- Three-dimensional elements
- Temporary/non-collectible
Dates: late 1950s to present
Famous Artists:
- Kurt Schwitters
- Yayoi Kusama
- Ai Weiwei
- Allan Kaprow
9. Land art
Four Seasons – Winter designed and sold by Saara Alhopuro
Also known as Earth art, environmental art, and earthworks, land art involves creating installation art in nature with natural materials. The style was a rejection of the consumerism of the time and a projection of the environmentalist movement beginning to take shape. It contains elements of both installation art and minimalism.
Style:
- Site-specific
- Constructed from only natural materials
- Outdoors
Dates: 1960s to 1970s
Famous Artists:
- Robert Smithson
- Nancy Holt
- Walter de Maria
- Michael Heizer
10. Minimalism
Viso designed and sold by penwork
Minimalism represents only whatever the artist presents rather than an imitation or allusion to anything outside the artwork itself. In other words, it stands completely alone rather than referencing another work. This is an extension of abstract expressionism.
Style:
- Sleek
- Geometric
- Abstract
- Simple forms
- Repetitive patterns
- Hard edges
- Use of two-dimensional space
Dates: 1960s to 1970s
Famous Artists:
- Frank Stella
- Ellsworth Kelly
- Roberty Ryman
- Agnes Martin
11. Neo-Impressionism
Blue Summer designed and sold by sandyhooley
Inspired by color theory, neo-impressionists blended colors on the canvas with dots or brushstrokes of complementary colors rather than mixing colors together on a palette to create new ones.
Pointillism refers to a specific technique used by neo-impressionists to blend color. Unlike impressionism, which relied on brush strokes to convey light, pointillism involves using repetitive dots made with a brush tip. When the eye looks at the painting, it blends the color.
This technique is often also called divisionism and chromo-luminarism.
Style:
- Dots of paint or small brush strokes
- Mosaic-like effects
- Elements of light
- Use of color to evoke emotion
Dates: 1880s to 1935
Famous Artists:
- Georges Seurat
- Vincent Van Gogh
- Camille Pissarro
- Paul Signac
12. Neoclassicism
Cameos – Blue designed and sold by Fabio Mancini
Neoclassicism was inspired by a renewed interest in Greek and Roman culture. The people of the time believed those cultures were ethically superior to their own, so they used historical people and events as inspirations for their artwork.
Style:
- References to Greek and Roman culture
- Shallow space
- Strong lines
- Dark, subdued colors
- Lack of clear brush strokes
- Historical accuracy
- Moralistic and serious tone
Dates: 1760s to 1850s
Famous Artists:
- Anton Raphael Mengs
- Benjamin West
- Jacques-Louis David
- Angelica Kauffmann
- Paul Signac
13. Pop Art
So Retro designed and sold by mathiole
Pop art blended the contemporary focus on commercialism with art, making it more approachable for the masses. It allowed artists who were tired of abstract expressionism to experiment with realism for the first time after World War II.
Style:
- Images of consumerism
- Mass reproduction
- Everyday items as subjects
- Simple imagery
- Bright color blocks
- Hard edges
- Young and witty
Dates: 1955 to 1965
Famous Artists:
- Andy Warhol
- Richard Hamilton
- Roy Lochtenstein
- Robert Rauschenberg
14. Portraiture
Ablaze designed and sold by JNew884
Portraiture is the painting of a specific person and can be done by an observer or the subject of the image (self-portraiture). Portraiture has been a staple of most of the significant art movements in history. These works can be realistic or abstract, depending on the artist.
Style:
- Human subject
- Often a plain or solid-colored background
- Highlights a person’s characteristics, which can be embellished to make the subject look better to the viewer
- Use various styles, including abstract, impressionist, and pop art
Dates: popular throughout history, especially in royal and wealthy circles
Famous Artists:
- Rembrandt van Rijn
- Johannes Vermeer
- Vincent van Gogh
- John Singer Sargent
15. Realism
Babysitting designed and sold by Michael Haslam
While earlier art movements favored beauty and perfection, realism prioritized reality, which at the time was chaotic with social change. They treated their everyday subjects with the drama and seriousness previously reserved for the elite.
Style:
- Working class subjects
- Focus on everyday life events rather than the historically significant
- Dark color schemes
- Depiction of elements of society previously deemed “ugly”
- Rejection of perspective
Dates: 1840s to 1880s
Famous Artists:
- Gustave Courbet
- Jean-François Millet
- Édouard Manet
- James Whistler
16. Rococo
Symbiosis designed and sold by noisymouse
Rococo was the epitome of luxury in its time. The term “rococo” was inspired by the French word “rocaille,” which refers to the shell or pebble work popularly used in stucco to make it more decorative. The style is also known as late Baroque since it shares a lot of similar elements but with a lighter tone.
Style:
- Elaborate ornamentation
- Highly detailed
- Idealistic
- Dramatic elements
- Cupids and Roman motifs
- Light colors
Dates: 1700 to 1780
Famous Artists:
- François Boucher
- Jean-Honoré Fragonard
- Jean-Atonine Watteau
- Jean-Baptiste Simeon Chardin
17. Still Life
Two for Two designed and sold by Lisafrancesjudd
Still life refers more to the subject matter than a specific art movement. Still lifes focus on inanimate objects, usually consisting of household objects like bowls of fruit or flowers.
Style:
- Realistic depictions of inanimate objects
Dates: popular in nearly every art movement since the 1500s
Famous Artists:
- Paul Cezanna
- Caravaggio
- Vincent Van Gogh
- Andy Warhol
18. Surrealism
Le Temps Passe Vite (Time Flies) designed and sold by Norman Duenas
Surrealists faced an uncertain world and used fantasy and symbolism to explore the irrational. The psychological work of Sigmund Fruend and Carl Jung heavily influenced the movement
Style:
- Lack of reason
- Imaginative
- Provocative
- Spontaneous
- Absurd imagery
- Humorous yet ominous
Dates: 1924 to 1966
Famous Artists:
- Salvador Dali
- Frida Kahlo
- André Breton
- Joan Miró
More art styles
19. Art Deco
Art Deco style became popular in the 1920s after World War I. Geometric shapes and clean lines rule this Great Gatsby-esque style, also known for its bright pinks, royal purples and brilliant teals.
20. Art Nouveau
You can identify this art style by its characteristic long, serpentine lines. It’s been used in countless different bodies of design including architecture, jewelry, and interior design. The Metropolitan Museum in New York City was famously built in this style.
21. Cubism
Cubism was invented around 1908. It was created by artists Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. This art style uses shapes to play with perspective and depth. A key point of recognizing Cubism is if you’re able to see different angles of the subject from one viewpoint.
22. Dadaism
Dadaism was born around 1916, shortly after World War I began. This rebel art style was created in protest of WWI, a war people of that day saw as pointless. The nature of this art style is humorous and absurd. A well-known piece of Dadaist art features a bearded Mona Lisa.
23. Dutch Golden Age
The Dutch Golden age refers to the 17th century period where art, trade, science, and military power flourished in the Netherlands. Painters from this period produced works like Johannes Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring”. Most Dutch Golden Age paintings project richness, tension, and movement.
24. Fauvism
Fauvism might be defined as taking expressionism one step further through vibrant color. Early Fauvist artists wanted to use color to project emotion onto the canvas. This usage separated color from its traditional realistic role and gave it a new depth.
25. Futurism
Futurism began in the early 1900s in Italy as part of a radical movement. Filippo Tommaso Marinetti was an Italian poet who wanted to discard traditional forms of art and declared Futurism the new art style. Futurist artists sought to portray constant, furious movement in their work.
26. Post Impressionism
Vincent Van Gough, Paul Gauguin, and Paul Cezanne are three painters who revolutionized Post Impressionism. Displeased with the restrictions of the Impressionist art style, they formed a style that allowed for easier, longer brush strokes on their paintings. Van Gough, especially, used this technique in his famous work “Starry Night”.
27. Renaissance
The Renaissance was flourishing in the 15th century, shining a spotlight on notable artists like Michelangelo, Raphael, and Leonardo Da Vinci. The Renaissance was a time period where life was modernizing and art was no exception. Painting and sculpture were especially popular art forms. The art focused on the human body and nature.
28. Romanticism
The Romantic movement began in the 19th century and was categorized by one main thing: showing emotion. Rage, love, fear, and gothic paintings were all part of the romantic movement. The paintings were usually of people, acts of nature, or scenes of wars.
29. Ukiyo-e
This ancient Japanese art style is defined by its colorful woodblock prints. Directly translated it means “pictures of the floating world”. This style typically depicts Japanese life at leisure. Landscapes, people, and nature are usually the subjects of Ukiyo-e art. “Under the Wave” by Katsushika Hokusai is arguably the most famous piece of Ukiyo-e art, and is even an emoji.
Now that you’ve seen these popular art style examples, it’s your turn! Tackle a new style of art and put your own spin on it. If you think others would enjoy what you create, consider signing up to sell your art on our marketplace.
If your art skills leave something to be desired, don’t worry! You can support our independent artists by buying their artwork and arranging it on your wall. Whether you’re framing a poster or just hanging it on your wall, we’ve got the perfect piece of art for you.
Featured Image: Arcadian Topography designed and sold by dansedelune