Modern Art's True Origins: Joseph Wright's 1768 Masterpiece

In 1768, Joseph Wright of Derby painted 'An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump,' a dramatic scene of scientific inquiry now argued to be modern art's true genesis. The work captures the Enlightenment's scientific spirit with a realism and human impact typically associated with later periods.

Modern art is typically understood to begin in the mid-19th century, yet evidence suggests its foundational elements were present in 18th-century works like Wright's. This conventional timeline, rooted in stylistic breaks, overlooks earlier thematic and conceptual innovations.

Art historians and enthusiasts should critically re-evaluate modern art's traditional timeline, potentially shifting its perceived origins significantly earlier. This re-evaluation offers a more nuanced art history, challenging rigid, anachronistic definitions that overlook its complex origins.

The Unexpected Dawn of Modernity

Joseph Wright of Derby's 1768 painting 'An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump' contends for modern art's true beginning, according to BBC. The work depicts a dramatic science experiment, a bird in a vacuum, with spectators reacting intensely. Wright's approach, remixing art historical traditions with contemporary scenes, aligns with Charles Baudelaire's mid-19th century concept of modern painting, nearly a century later. This alignment suggests Wright intuitively grasped principles later formalized, making his work a prescient example of art as a mirror to societal evolution. The painting mirrors and interprets profound societal shifts, like the Industrial Revolution, by elevating a scientific experiment to a dramatic, large-scale narrative.

1. Abstract Expressionism

Best for: Artists exploring subconscious emotion and direct, unmediated expression.

Abstract Expressionism emerged after World War II, flourishing in the late 1940s and 1950s. Artists independently developed approaches to abstraction, valuing authenticity, directness, and immediacy of expression. Artworks largely avoided realistic images, often employing large scales to immerse the viewer and activating the entire canvas surface, according to metmuseum and clyffordstillmuseum. The characteristics of Abstract Expressionism collectively represent a radical departure from traditional representation, prioritizing the artist's inner world and the viewer's immersive experience.

Characteristic	Joseph Wright of Derby's 1768 Painting	Mid-19th Century Modern Art (e.g. Impressionism)	Mid-20th Century Modern Art (e.g. Abstract Expressionism)
Chronological Origin	1768 (18th Century)	Early 1860s (Mid-19th Century)	Late 1940s (Mid-20th Century)
Thematic Core	Scientific inquiry, societal modernization, dissemination of knowledge, human drama in contemporary intellectual pursuits.	Everyday life, fleeting moments, effects of light, urban and rural landscapes.	Individual expression, subconscious emotion, universal human experience.
Engagement with Contemporary Life	Directly portrays a contemporary scientific experiment and its human impact.	Depicts contemporary scenes and leisure activities with new visual techniques.	Reflects post-war anxieties and psychological shifts through abstraction.
Stylistic Approach	Dramatic realism, chiaroscuro, traditional composition with contemporary subject.	Loose brushwork, visible strokes, emphasis on light and color.	Non-representational, large scale, emphasis on gesture and process.
Prefiguration of Modernity	Elevated contemporary, non-classical narrative to grand scale; 'remixed art historical traditions with contemporary scenes.'	Broke with academic tradition; focused on subjective perception and immediate experience.	Shifted art world center; prioritized authenticity and direct emotional expression.