The history of art movements dates back to 40,000 years ago when Neanderthals created the earliest visual art. From cave paintings to the Renaissance, art has evolved alongside technological advancements and societal growth, reflecting the human need for expression and cultural progression.

The French Revolution of 1848 led to the emergence of Realism, an art movement that focused on depicting everyday life and nature in an unembellished manner, giving a voice to overlooked members of society. This movement was followed by Impressionism, which broke academic traditions and captured the transient presence of sunlight and movement in intense and vibrant scenes of modern life.

Post-Impressionism, an extension of impressionism, rejected some of its limitations while highlighting each artist’s subjective vision. Meanwhile, Expressionism presented the world solely from a subjective point of view, radically distorting scenes on canvases to align with the artists' mood, emotions, and ideas.

The chapter explores the emergence of Art Nouveau, Vienna Secession, and Modernisme as distinct art movements in Europe, characterized by a departure from traditional styles and a return to nature. It also delves into the revolutionary impact of Cubism, founded by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, which shattered conventional artistic norms and paved the way for abstract modern art movements.

The chapter discusses the emergence of Futurism in Italy, led by Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, which celebrated the modern world of technology and industry while rejecting the culture of the past. It also explores the Dada movement as a response to the horrors of World War I, characterized by the rejection of traditional artistic values and the creation of satirical works.

Surrealism, a twentieth-century art movement influenced by Sigmund Freud's psychology, aimed to revolutionize the human experience by tapping into the subconscious mind. Led by Andre Breton, this imaginative movement challenged perceptions and reality through artworks that juxtaposed unrealistic subject matter with realistic painting styles.