“Art is like nature, simple and deep, one and diverse” Victor Hugo. In one word, art is diversity and that is beautiful. There are many types of art, and renaissance art and abstract art are at opposite poles. Are they, however, so different? Let’s find out!

For centuries and until today, the renaissance art is a concept which has remained in everyone’s minds through its revolutionary techniques, its artists with meaningful names who are considered true geniuses and through the paintings themselves- genuine masterpieces.

The renaissance in the field of painting, sculpture and architecture would not have had the same magnitude or the same impact, if the people behind the creations were not fully accomplished men. For example, in the case of Leondardo da Vinci, not only his artistic genius guided him on the path to success when it comes to the painting “Mona Lisa” (which is considered the most acclaimed work from the history of painting), but also his thorough studies in anatomy and mathematics. Due to the fact that art and science were not considered separate disciplines (as today's thinking), the Renaissance led to a unification in thinking, broadening the horizon of perception of the ordinary man.

The Renaissance art is worshiped in the current century to the detriment of abstract art, because it seems easier to understand. For the ordinary people, who are not willing to reflect, the story behind the painting seems accessible to notice. For enthusiasts, one can observe with the naked eye mysterious details, which intrigue the mind and soul. Being an art style that offers multiple perspectives, it has a much wider target audience

Starting with the 20th century, abstract art represents a revolt, a protest against renaissance art. It is based on emotion, an emotion which is transmitted through lines, spots, colors and volumes.

Wassily Kandinsky is one of the first representatives of abstract art, who paints, starting with 1910 a series of paintings called “Improvisation”. He published in 1911 one study dedicated exclusively to abstract art, called “About spiritual in art” which has contributed to affirmation of this type of art. Several events of this period contributed to the development of this art. Some of those events were: apparition in 1917 of "De Stijl'' magazine, edited by Theo van Doesburg, National Abstract Art Exposition from Berlin (1928) under the auspices of the association "Abstrakte Gruppe der Sturm", creation in France, in 1932 of "Abstraction-Création" group. Why, however, these artists wanted to make abstract art known, even if renaissance art seemed like a concept which had a lot of success in the entire world? They wanted to show that abstract art represents more than two spots painted on canvas. It is a pure emotion, transmitted by the artist, which can reach the viewer in different forms. The beauty of abstract art is that everyone can interpret the painting in different ways, but none of them are wrong. Although abstract art was, in this period, a concept that was ununderstood or misunderstood by a big part of the critics.

Abstract art, being harder to understand, is a controversial subject these days. They are many that see it as an absurdity, one concept without any meaning, or as an easy thing to do, a far to mundane concept. Is it so? It depends on which side you look at. It depends if you can see through forms and colors, or not. The truth is that, comparing it with renaissance art, abstract art is so much harder to understand, being non-conformist and without proper elements of real life, representing more an emotion, or one different interpretation of real elements. Thus, the target audience of this type of art is more restricted.

So what do you think: is Renaissance art so different from the abstract one? We would not consider that, because, regardless of the techniques used, of the famous painters or art critics divided into two camps, art remains art. Art means discipline, hard work, talent, but, above all, it means emotion, and this should be the most important criterion according to which we judge a work of art.

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editorial: Alexia Stelea,

Alexandra Zanef

graphic design: Alexandra Zanef

translation: Alexia Stelea,

Alexandra Zanef

DP (desktop publishing): Alexandra Zanef