Modernism is a broad term that covers all the avant-garde art movements, and unites them under one name. These movements were; Fauvism, Primitivism, Expressionism, Cubism, Futurism, Dadaism and a lot of other different movements. Modernism was popularized in the very late 1800s and early 20th century and went on til later in the 20th century.

Modernism was taken on by a lot of artists during the early 19th century. Modernist imagery normally rejected the older art movements such as classicism and naturalism. It also normally rejected or ignored the idea of religion that was often used within older art movements. Instead of this a lot of the art is about social factors within the world and different things that were happening at the time, showing things such as peoples social classes.

Photography was a huge part of the popularization of modernism. Photography pre-modernism was often disregarded as not being a form of art. Though after modernism was introduced it was quickly became popular.