Why Classic and Contemporary Paintings Look Different

Have you ever noticed that portraits from olden days look so much different than the ones that were painted relatively more recently? Classical art has a different kind of anesthetic to it. There are a lot of reasons why modern and contemporary art forms differ from the beauty of classic paintings.

Although both of them are beautiful in their own way, there is something about classic paintings that sets them apart from the ones we find today. Keep in mind that over hundreds of years, everything has changed when it comes to painting. The canvas, the brushes, the paints used, and the styles of painting have all gradually evolved, and all this plays a huge part in this discrepancy between classic and contemporary paintings. 

Classic vs. Contemporary

Before we get into the specifics of why paintings look different today than they used to in the 17th century, we need to specify what exactly we mean by classic and contemporary art. There is not a specific year at which the bifurcation between classic and contemporary occurs. 

However, most art connoisseurs agree that art created before the 1860s-1880s is considered classic art, while that made after the 1880s is modern art. This is yet another time frame for which art has its own category.

Although the word contemporary means the present (which means that the definition of contemporary art depends upon the time frame in which the term is used), artists and historians agree that all art made after the 1960s is considered contemporary art.

The Differences and Reasons

Classic and contemporary art is meant to evoke different emotions in the heart and mind of the viewer. According to Britannica, the main difference between these different art forms “was a shift in focus away from aesthetic beauty to the underlying concept of the work.”

Structure

Besides this, the basic structure of the painting was also different. Classic painting used a method of painting called indirect painting, while contemporary painting uses direct painting. The indirect method of painting had multiple layers of paints, which were all visible simultaneously in the finished piece. 

Basically, the canvas is the first layer, on which white ground is applied, on which several other layers of paints are used. These included black backgrounds, white paints, or transparent glazes that were used to give the illusion of a three-dimensional space. 

Color Palette

The color palette available to the painters of contemporary work is much more varied than was available in older times. This means that there is a much better chance for painters of today to find the right hue and contrast for their paintings. 

This was not true for classic painters, as they had to stick to a limited number of colors. The mixing of these colors for the right hue was completely up to the skill of the artist, and even within that, they had a limited number of combinations to work with. 

This is why you can probably notice that modern and contemporary art pops out more than classic art when it comes to hue and contrast. The painters also used light in a different way than modern painters do.

Examples

Now that you know why contemporary paintings look different from classic paintings, here are a few examples of famous portraits to show how classic paintings differ from contemporary ones. The dates when these paintings were completed are mentioned next to them.

Contemporary – Ada in Hat, from Alex and Ada (the 1960s to 1980s)

Notice the bold colors and clean lines and curves used in this painting. This is a typical example of contemporary paintings, with the main subject of the piece in stark contrast to the plain backdrop. Alex and Ada is a series of paintings by W.B. Katz.

Classic – Girl with a Pearl Earring (1665)

In a similar style, you can see a girl against a plain backdrop. Girl with a Pearl Earring is one of the most famous paintings of all time, painted by artist Jan Vermeer Van Delft. Jan Vermeer Van Delft was a Dutch Baroque Period painter. In vermeer paintings we can see the domestic scenes from the European middle class. Girl with a Pearl Earring has inspired books and movies to figure out who the girl in the painting is. 

You can notice the subtle differences in this painting and the one before this, as the strokes and colors are not like contemporary styles. You can also see a distinct grain in this painting because of the different types of canvases used for these paintings.

The Bottom Line

Art comes in many types, and paintings are one of the most timeless forms of it. For several years, beautiful paintings have enamored people, made them fall in love, made them feel morose and elated, and countless other emotions.