Could a single painting truly mark the birth of modern art? It’s a bold claim, but one that’s sparking heated debate among art historians. The spotlight falls on Joseph Wright of Derby’s 1768 masterpiece, An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump. While air pumps themselves date back to 1650, the painting’s significance lies in its revolutionary spirit—democratizing scientific knowledge in a way that was utterly modern. As Christine Riding notes, ‘The dissemination of knowledge was a new thing to the 18th Century.’ But here’s where it gets controversial: could this painting, with its blend of art and science, really be the tipping point that redefined art’s purpose?
Modern life on canvas
Traditionally, the depiction of modern society is credited to 19th-century pioneers like JMW Turner. Yet, Wright’s work challenges this narrative. Riding argues that Wright’s innovation was fueled by the evolving art scene in Britain. Before the Royal Academy, artists had multiple exhibition venues, including the Society of Artists of Great Britain, where Wright’s painting debuted. ‘This was a world that didn’t separate art and science,’ Riding explains. ‘They were seen as one and the same.’ Wright seized this cross-disciplinary freedom, making science the star of his art—a move that mirrored the Industrial Revolution unfolding in his native Midlands. He even rubbed shoulders with luminaries like the Lunar Society of Birmingham, cementing his role as a chronicler of his era.
A modern mindset, but is it modern art?
Wright’s painting captured a modern state of mind, as noted by contemporary critics who hailed him as ‘a very great and uncommon genius.’ Yet, his technique remained rooted in the 17th century, echoing the Caravaggio-like style of his predecessors. This contrasts sharply with later works like Turner’s Rain, Steam, and Speed (1844), which not only depicted progress but also revolutionized painting techniques. And this is the part most people miss: while Wright’s subject matter was modern, his method wasn’t. The true hallmark of modern art—the shift from realism to expressionism and abstraction—came later, championed by artists like Hilma af Klint and Kandinsky.
The skeptic’s gaze
What truly sets Wright apart, according to Riding, is his ‘questioning, doubt, and skepticism.’ During the Enlightenment, science and reason were seen as society’s saviors, but Wright’s painting hints at unease. The fear in the young girl’s eyes and the fretful expression of the silhouetted man suggest a quieter, earlier critique of progress—a theme Goya would later amplify. This nuanced skepticism, paired with his engagement with contemporary issues, makes Wright’s work a fascinating precursor to modern art.
So, is it the first modern artwork?
While An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump may not fully align with the avant-garde of the 19th and 20th centuries, it’s undeniably a pioneering response to a modernizing world. It honors tradition while depicting contemporary life, grapples with societal changes, and questions progress—all hallmarks of later modern art. Yet, Wright remains a figure on the cusp, neither fully traditional nor entirely modern. Was he the tipping point? That’s still up for debate. But one thing’s certain: his work challenges us to rethink the origins of modern art.
What do you think? Is Wright’s painting the true birth of modern art, or just a fascinating footnote in its history? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments—this is one discussion that’s far from settled.
