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Why is mid-19th-century France often considered the starting point of modern painting?
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Western painting
Self-Portrait, oil on canvas by Judith Leyster, c. 1630; in the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Mid-19th-century France is considered the starting point of modern art because it marked a decisive break from the rigid conventions of the academic art establishment. During this period, artists began rejecting traditional narrative subjects and illusionistic techniques in favor of depicting contemporary life and experimenting with new methods.123
Key factors in this shift include:
- Rejection of Academic Tradition: Painters like Gustave Courbet and Édouard Manet challenged the Salon—the official arbiter of taste—by presenting gritty, everyday realities and unconventional styles. The 1863 Salon des Refusés became a pivotal moment, bringing together artists who would eventually form the Impressionist movement.4123
- New Artistic Methods: Impressionism founded modern painting by emphasizing the objective recording of light and color through visible, undisguised brushstrokes. This approach prioritized the medium itself over traditional illusionism.35
- Modern Subject Matter: Influenced by writers like Charles Baudelaire, artists began focusing on the "painter of modern life," capturing urban scenes and contemporary social experiences rather than historical or mythological themes.13
These developments paved the way for Post-Impressionism and the subsequent avant-garde movements of the 20th century.15