Though the backbone of art was formed by academics that graduated classical artists, some of the most influential artists broke away from such academies to change the rules. Impressionists, led by Claude Monet, formed a group of artists originally rejected from the academies to paint in their own ...

In his famous "Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2" (1912) Marcel Duchamp used a limited cubist palette and faceting of forms but completely contradicted the cubist esthetic in his choice of an ironic title and stress on actual movement. When this painting was exhibited at the Armory Show in New Yo...

The reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901), experienced an emphasis on public righteousness and moral propriety. Victorian society was largely highlighted by the industrial revolution which had been rapidly transforming rural areas into industrialized landscapes. However, this development pushed the lo...