Modern art, spanning roughly from the 1860s to the 1950s, was a revolutionary break from traditional artistic styles. Unlike the realistic paintings of the past, modern artists weren't concerned with perfectly replicating the world. Instead, their focus shifted towards capturing emotions, ideas, and experimentation.

One key characteristic of modern paintings is abstraction. This involved breaking down forms and objects into their most basic elements – lines, shapes, and colors. Artists like Wassily Kandinsky used abstraction to evoke feelings and pure visual experiences. Another defining feature is a rejection of traditional techniques. Gone were the smooth, detailed finishes. Modern painters embraced bold brushstrokes, vibrant colors, and even incorporated new materials like collage elements. Think of Vincent van Gogh's swirling brushwork or Pablo Picasso's fractured figures in Cubism.

The cultural impact of modern art was immense. It challenged the established art world and forced viewers to confront new ways of seeing and interpreting art. Modern paintings became a reflection of the rapidly changing times, capturing the anxieties and innovations of the 20th century. This artistic revolution continues to influence contemporary art, with its focus on individual expression and pushing the boundaries of the medium.