Toward the Modern Era: Art, Music, and Literature

The modern era began with Manet.  His painting, Le Dejeuner sur l'Herbe, opened the way for revolutionary creativity.

He also painted this: A Bar at the Folies-Bergere.  

Then came Monet.  

Renoir.  

Seurat. 

van Gogh.  

Gaugin.  

Mary Cassatt.  

Munch.  

Cezanne.  

Picasso, and many others.

It seems that as time grows closer to our era, the artistic styles grow farther apart.  There is no "ism" to  classify modern art, other than modernism itself.

In the way of literature, Dostoyevsky wrote Crime and Punishment, Ibsen's A Doll's House was performed, Wilde published Salome, Kate Chopin composed The Awakening, and Freud created Interpretation of Dreams.  These literary works share the theme of societal development.  Again, the styles are different but the theme of modernism pervades all.

Music nearing the modern era gains the name Impressionism.  This is also what the works of artists such as Monet, were called: Impressionistic.  Debussy and Ravel were th two most well known musicians for this era.  However, once Shoenberg's music appeared, the modern era had been reached.  Shoenberg is man credited with developing atonal works.  They are difficult to listen to, but very modern in their sound.  Stravinsky, Cage, and Mahler were also musicians that are grouped in the moder era.  It is interesting to seek for the symbolism in their works.  Just as Mahler said, "A symphony should be like the world-it should contain everything."  Their works strive to do just that.