Greenberg argues that modernism in painting does not represent a radical rupture with representational painting but rather is a continuation of the evolution of pictorial art. He also states that modernism is a by-product of the process of self-critism. Modernist painters tried to stress what was unique to painting . In exploring this "uniqueness" they experimented with eliminating the decorative elements from the picture plane. One of the remaining unique features for the artists was the flatness of the picture plane and a move away from the sculptural aspects of the traditional painting methods.
Below I have three artists discussed trying to show that they evolved from traditional painting to modernism through the process of critical thinking.
Edouard Manet ( french painter and printmaker) studied under an academic painter of historical paintings, Thomas Couture and in his spare time he copied the old masters in the Louvre. His style evolved into the modern because he started to think critically about his painting. He started experimenting with the arraingement of paint areas on a canvas over and above its function as representation. He became known for his loose brush strokes, simplification of details and the suppression of traditional tones.
Paul Cezanne (French Painter) started to question the role of art as a representation of religious thought, historical representation, and a status symbol for the rich and powerful elite. He decided to paint people, things and events around him. This evolution was a direct result of critically thinking about the role of his art. He became interested in the simplification of the naturally occurring forms to their geometric essentials. He wanted "to treat nature by the cyclinder, the sphere, the cone etc...". His paintings became flat with very little sculptural aspects.
Wassily Kandisky ( Russian painter and art theorist) is credited with painting the first modern abstract works. He started painting studies (life-drawings and anatomy) at the age of thirity after becoming a successful lawyer and teacher. His creation of purely abstract work followed a long period of development and maturation of intense theoretical thought. Kandinsky thought that a true artist was at a lonely place leading the way into the future. I doubt that the old masters felt this way.
These artists ( along with many others) achieved " modernism" because they thought critically about what they were doing with their art. The aspects of their art that were modern are the departures from the decorative, sculptural, and the traditional. These new and enlightened artists were not impressed with the "tricks of technique". However they all learned them at first.
I agree with the arguement that modern art is a continuation of the past. My own experience as an artist is one of evolving. I look on this evolution as a natural progression. I believe that it is a good and helpful experience to learn the basics of art (drawing, perspective, color, shading, design, etc...) in order to develop as an artist. Critical thinking is essential to art. There has never been a time when the past has not shaped the present and the future. It is impossible nor desireable to escape the influence of the traditonal art of the past. Modernism emerged because of critical thinking and a desire to use art as commentary. Greenberg said it well: "Nothing could be futher from the authentic art of our time than the idea of a rupture of continuity". Art is-among other things- continuity, and unthinkable without it.
I think that there is a link between the advances in the sciences (especially Physics) and art. This was touched on by Greenberg in this article. Winn Becton