Final answer:
Modern artists were deeply engaged with their rapidly changing contemporary environment, reflected on personal experiences, and expressed societal issues through innovative artistic movements such as abstraction and expressionism.
Step-by-step explanation:
Modern artists were concerned with much more than new forms of creativity. They were engaged in a dynamic dialogue with the contemporary world around them, which included rapid technological advancements, industrial changes, and the resulting social and cultural shifts. Beyond the creation of art that was aesthetically innovative, they sought to capture the spirit of the times (zeitgeist), and to reflect on their personal experiences against the backdrop of a world undergoing profound changes.
The rapid industrial growth introduced numerous technological advancements that impacted the art world. This new environment allowed artists to experiment with a variety of mediums, while also traveling and exposing themselves to different cultures and artistic methods. With tools like portable paint tubes and easels, artists could capture their contemporary environment, and this led to innovative approaches in depicting light, color, and subject matter in their work.
Moreover, modern art became a vehicle for exploring the underlying psychological and emotional currents of the era. The rise of modernist art brought forth artistic expressions formulated on feelings, including those of disillusionment from wars and depressions, which played out through experimentation with art movements such as abstraction, expressionism, and surrealism. Artists also responded to societal issues, with some challenging mainstream moral values and addressing topics such as antinationalism, racism, and technology's impact.