Funny thing. Almost a century ago the avant-garde art appeared. And still, it gets so much attention – and so much love & hate. It totally changed the art – and no one can say undoubtedly for good or for bad. 

But how it changed it? Why so many people still compare “classic” and “modern” art? Well, because the avant-gardists themselves opposed the “classics”. The end of 19 and the beginning of the 20 century actually was full of very important marks. Firstly, the literacy spread – and created dozens of new artists, writers and musicians. Of course, it was hard for “classics” to hold their ground in such situation. Before that, they had a monopoly. In their universities and conservatories, they could dictate any rules. Now more people were literate – and the communications also developed. 

But also the progress created many problems. For example, photography made “classical” realistic art meaningless. Why I would picture this and try to be as realistic as I can – if photo still will be better? Good question!

Art was full of such existential crises. Why we should paint in this style, just copying the “great artists of the past”? Why I cannot paint the abstract form? Or paint human in two perspectives at the same time? 

The whole question of art has changed. It became “What if”. What if I’ll break the rules? What if I paint this way? What if I will change the style? 

And this influence just strengthened in the future. Look at Rock Bands. Do you remember their experiments with sound? What if I’ll bring the pan into the studio and start beating it? What if I yell or start singing very quietly? 

The avant-garde movement just changed the paradigm of art. Before them, art meant to be something “high-spirited”, something educational and very smart. It was full of regulations and rules. But after the avant-gardists art changes the meaning – becoming self-expression. And gained the main question – “what if”.