Modernism

Modernism was a rejection of tradition and cultural movements rooted in the changes of Western Society in the late 19th and early 20th century. Its purpose was to create, improve, and reshape the human environment; finding new, progressive, therefor better ways of reaching traditional ends. Manet and the impressionists are generally regarded as the initiators of modern art. Many artists thought tradition irrelevant in the fast changing world of urbanization. Along with this modernization came drastic changes in philosophy and science. Theories by Darwin and Einstein challenged man's place in the world in the traditional religious context. Technology played an important role as well. With inventions such as the camera could capture an image near perfectly, what was the purpose of perfecting ancient methods? This rejection of tradition was then further pushed by the outbreak of World War I. The atrocities of war led to a general sense of dejection towards man and his ability to create chaos.