The Industrial Revolution and the Arts

In the latter half of the eighteenth century many countries slowly turned into industrialized places, the city grew, the industry grew everywhere, and many technologies like the steam engine appeared. This phenomenon known as the industrial revolution began in the UK first, then spread to France and Germany. Industrialization contributes to social, economic, and to some extent artistic development, but it weakens society. In fact, the Industrial Revolution was a great inspiration for artists who lived at that time.

Secondly, with the spread of art, many new art movements were born from the industrial revolution, art dealers began to focus on specific art forms. The Industrial Revolution did this in two opposite ways. Some artists opposed the view of the industrial revolution and they became more individualized, emotional and liberalized by the appearance of painters and romantic movements. Romanticism focuses on emotion and reason, and spontaneous expression. Examples of romantic artists include Edmund Burke, William Blake, Sir Byron etc. (Swine, Imogen 2009). Another artistic movement reflecting the ideals of the Industrial Revolution is the Raffaello fellowship group, a group of British painters founded in 1848 (Stavrakis, Modestos 2009). These artists tried to regain Raphael's previous style of painting.

Three art movements overlap the industrial revolution. In Romanticism, artists paint according to ideal beauty standards. In realism, the artist will try to portray the real life in a sincere and ugly way in his process, rejecting the ideal romantic style. The Impressionist's new style uses vivid colors to return to the natural environment and landscape and emphasizes the overall impression of the scene, not complete reproduction.

In response to the industrial revolution, the new art, or "new art", bridged the historical academic arts and contemporary art. This form of art is embodied mainly in the designs of the 19th and 20th century, visual arts and architecture. Artwork includes the use of gorgeous typography, organic, plant-like lines, whip curves, and art designs in everyday objects. French painters, printmakers, draftsmen, illustrator Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and American Art Nouveau illustrator and artist Will H. Bradley are the two most famous artists in this style.