Modern art III (the second half of the 20th century). The boom of initiatives. The first essay
Abstract
The essay examines the artistic culture of the second half of the 20th century (specifically the 1960s-1980s, referred to as Modern art III), highlighting its underlying Romantic essence. The author establishes a structural parallel between this period and the Romantic era of the first half of the 19th century, demonstrating that despite apparent external dissimilarities, both historical stages share profound intrinsic homologies in their developmental dynamics. As is typical at the threshold of any epochal transition, the new did not simply replace the old but grew directly from it. At the same time, this relationship was reciprocal: the bold initiatives of the younger generation and their ability to generate qualitatively new artistic concepts had a transformative effect on the creative output of the older masters. Humankind entered this new period with immense self-confidence and a sudden, renewed interest in the history of World War II, which was reexamined in novel ways by a younger generation. Reflecting a fundamentally Romantic essence, the artistic culture of this period placed the individual’s inner world at the center of attention and cultivated a heightened sense of national identity. This era also witnessed a radical modernization of expressive means in different art types through the emergence of diverse new techniques.
References
- Rozhdestvensky R. The Ballad of Colors / transl. by V. Ilina-Pechenova. 2024. https://stihi.ru/2024/06/22/5157
- Voznesensky A. Autumn in Sigulda / transl. by W. H. Auden. 1961. https://ruverses.com/andrei-voznesensky/autumn-in-sigulda/5479/
- Voznesensky A. Silence! / transl. by A. Vagapov. 1964. https://samlib.ru/w/wagapow_a/voznes-e-ru.shtml
Acknowledgements
The author expresses gratitude to Kristina Vasilievna Solovyova, translator, foreign language teacher at the Music College of the Saratov State Conservatory, Head of the Humanities Department, and teacher of the first qualification category, for her assistance in preparing this publication.
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About this article
Publication history
- Received: June 15, 2026.
- Published: July 3, 2026.
Keywords
- мировой художественный процесс
- Модерн III
- романтическая природа
- внутренний мир личности
- национальная идентичность
- world artistic process
- Modern art III
- Romantic essence
- inner world of the individual
- national identity
Copyright
© 2026 The Author(s)
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