Impressionism, with its emphasis on capturing the fleeting effects of light and color, was a reaction against the traditional academic painting of the 19th century. Fauvism, characterized by its bold, vibrant colors and simplified forms, was a brief but influential movement that rejected the naturalistic style of Impressionism.

Cubism, pioneered by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, challenged the traditional concept of perspective by breaking down forms into geometric shapes. Futurism, which emerged in Italy in the early 20th century, celebrated the dynamism of the modern world and embraced technology and speed.

Expressionism, with its intense and emotional depictions of the human condition, was a response to the trauma of World War I. Dada, born out of the disillusionment with the political and social systems of the time, rejected traditional aesthetic values and embraced absurdity and anti-art.

Surrealism, founded by André Breton, explored the subconscious mind and embraced the irrational and the dreamlike. Abstract Expressionism, a movement centered in the United States in the mid-20th century, emphasized spontaneous, gestural painting and the importance of the creative process.

Pop Art, which emerged in the 1950s and 1960s, celebrated popular culture and mass media imagery and challenged the boundaries between high and low art.