Modern art is a great chapter that incorporates art from the end of the 19th century when society undergoes a radical transformation. At this time, the so-called Avant-gardes began to develop and we detached from the figurative tradition that shaped the 1800s. Let’s discover some surprising facts about modern art.

The first movements related to modern art are pre-impressionism, impressionism, than realism. Other very important movements will follow, such as symbolism, expressionism, futurism, and cubism. Finally, surrealism: here is the long parable of modern art, which embodies so many artistic currents so different from each other.

Surprising Facts About Modern Art

Below, we have discussed some surprising facts about modern art with examples.

1. La Gioconda has a value comparable to the 15% GDP of France. La Gioconda, also known as ‘The Mona Lisa,’ has an approximate value of 15% of France’s GDP according to Bloomberg’s data; that is, about 190 billion dollars. This figure was calculated based on the tourism income that the painting leaves to the French government in 5 years.
2. It is known that around the time the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre in 1912, at least five fakes were sold posing as the real one.
3. Contrary to popular belief, Vincent Van Gogh sold more than one painting in his life. As specialists from the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam explain, it is known that Van Gogh sold more than one of the 2,000 works that he made in his entire career. Although he did not sell many paintings (only 4 paintings are known), that is why that myth of the only painting has been kept alive.
4. Who is the woman in ‘The Girl with a Pearl Earring’ by Johannes Vermeer? The so-called “Dutch Mona Lisa” is one of the most emblematic portraits of the 17th century and probably also in the entire history of art.
5. Leonardo da Vinci was a vegetarian. There are indications that for at least part of his life, da Vinci was a vegetarian. By the way, Leonardo’s appreciation for animals was so great that he liked to buy caged birds in the markets and then release them.
6. Of the 25 most expensive paintings ever sold at auctions, 5 are by Van Gogh, 4 by Picasso, and 3 by Jackson Pollock.
7. In Vienna, Austria, there is a museum dedicated solely to counterfeits. The name of the place in question is “Museum of Art Fakes,” and in addition to entertaining, it partly seeks to raise awareness about how art impacts the masses.
8. “La Piedad” is the only work that Miguel Ángel has signed. He regretted it as he considered it a fit of pride and vowed never to sign another work in his life.
9. The marble slab that Michelangelo used to create the famous ‘David’ is recycled. The marble block used to create this famous Michelangelo sculpture was originally cut for use by Agostino di Duccio, some 40 years before David was completed. Initially destined for a Hercules sculpture in the Florentine Cathedral, after an argument with the parish priest, Di Duccio abandoned the project and the slab remained unused for several decades. Over the years, different artists tried to use the abandoned block. However, as the marble was so difficult to handle, everyone abandoned it. In the end, the stone ended up in the hands of Michelangelo in 1501 and everything else is history.
10. Many of Botticelli’s famous paintings have the same model. To save money, Botticelli used the same woman as a model. Over the years, he learned her features and proportions, even going so far as to paint her without facing her. This practice was also common with many other Renaissance painters to speed up the work.
11. Monet’s father wanted him to be a clothesline and not an artist. The family of the French painter Claude Monet did not approve of his career as a painter. His father, Claude Adolphe Monet, wanted his son to continue the successful family business of selling spices.
12. There are several original versions of “El Grito.” Considered by many to be one of the most recognizable paintings in the art world, Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” has at least 5 different versions. The first versions were sketches made with oil pastel paintings in the early 1890s. Another version created with pastels was painted in 1896 and one with lithography in 1897. The last version (the painting that we all know) was painted in 1910.
13. Picasso’s full name is… According to government records, the full name of Spanish artist Pablo Picasso is: Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Crispiniano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso.
14. Salvador Dalí was expelled from two art academies. The first, from the San Fernando Academy (apparently due to a protest), and the second from the Madrid School of Fine Arts resulted from various indiscipline.
15. Who are the couple from Grant Wood’s ‘American Gothic’? This famous painting, considered among the jewels of American art of the 20th century, portrays a couple of elders in front of their Gothic farmhouse. Although many would believe it was a royal couple, the painting people are Grant’s sister and her dentist. By the way, her mother was originally going to be the model, but because of how exhausting it was to stand so long in the sun, she decided to change her for her sister.
16. Paul Gaugin worked on the construction of the Panama Canal. Throughout his life, the French painter Paul Gaugin traveled the world in search of unique adventures, even working for a time on the construction of the Panama Canal (in the French version) at the end of the 19th century.
17. It is true that Frida Kahlo was born and died in the same house. On July 6, 1907, in the Coyoacán area south of Mexico City, in the famous “Blue House.” And he died in the same place on July 13, 1954, 47 years and 7 days later.
18. The best-selling pigment for art is… The best-selling paint is titanium white (approximately 30% of total world oil paint sales). By the way, check out our article Is the color white a color?
19. From 1912 to 1948, art was among the Olympic disciplines. Oddly enough, in the first Olympics of the modern era, art competitions handed out medals. Of course, they had to be works inspired by sport and competition.
20. Visual artists are among the lowest-paid professionals in America. According to data from the U.S. employment office, the average visual artist earns between $ 18,000 to $ 25,000 a year. This makes the visual arts one of the lowest paying professions in the country.

Do you know the benefits of art for health? We have always been told that this discipline, which encompasses many different subcategories, has the ability to heal the soul and rejoice the heart.

However, it could also have important physical benefits that are currently very little known among the bulk of the population.

According to this research carried out by Alanus University (Germany), creativity can reduce stress and help the patient to manage it in a satisfactory way.

Music has also been observed to stimulate the development of the fetus in the womb, according to this study carried out by a team from the University of Torun (Poland).

And the thing is, the relationship between art and well-being is not something new. Let’s go deeper.

Types of art

1. Architecture

A common expression that we observe around us. This is reflected in the construction of buildings such as houses, churches, museums, etc.

This science is responsible for designing and evaluating structures that set a pattern over time and many of them are a reflection of the culture and customs of the time.

2. Visual arts

They encompass various techniques, such as painting, sculpture, drawing, and engraving. Photography, film, and television also fall within the group.

These types of visual expressions, especially plastic arts, can be created by children from an early age.

3. Music

Music is the art of making the ensemble of certain sounds orderly and harmonious, and therefore pleasant. This union will take shape through the rhythm and melody provided by the human voice itself or the instruments.

The manifestations of this art can be very varied and contain various combinations. There is even a type of therapy to help people, called music therapy.

4. Literature

Literature is an expression of art that takes advantage of language as a means of expression. In general, it is understood that this category brings together the different forms in which written communication manifests, whether in prose or verse.

In this way, we can find novels, biographies, or poems, among other currents of the genre.

5. The performing arts

The performing arts encompass cinema (which is called “the seventh art”), television, dance and theater. They are a channel to relive literary stories, fictional or not.

People enjoy this art form on stage that allows them to actively participate (as actors, for example) and be entertained. However, viewers can also have fun observing and analyzing.

In this way, it seeks to generate empathy between the public and the characters played by the actors and actresses.

Art Makes You Happier & Healthier

1. Stimulates creativity

Although it may not seem like it at first glance when we contemplate a work of art we observe and analyze it to try to understand its message. This means that when trying to decipher the meaning of a work of art, we need to let our imagination run wild, thereby stimulating our mind and enhancing our creativity.

2. Improve self-esteem

The second of the health benefits of art is the improvement of self-perception in its different facets but, above all, on the intangible plane (whether spiritual or mental). Let’s not forget that creating a work of art helps to have good self-esteem because it also promotes some personal satisfaction with oneself.

3. Helps to enhance memory and focus concentration

The health benefits of art also include improved memory and focused concentration. To begin with, the different artistic manifestations allow us to concentrate, so that attention is optimized when carrying out tasks. Let us remember that the analysis of work requires a certain concentration to be able to reflect on it.

Now, art can also help enhance memory. Whether we are creators or spectators, when we remember a work we evoke different details and reconstruct a part of what we feel; we appreciate colors, shapes, depth, smells and we live the moment of encounter with it.