Modernism was a cultural movement that swept throughout Europe in the nineteenth and twentieth century. It is difficult to describe, although it is often seen as a march toward change. The highly industrialised world of the period had a particularly strong influence on more traditional ways of life and traditional forms of art. Modernists rejected these traditions in order to create something new and exciting. Modern artists changed the way people saw art by being experimental and breaking with convention. They also used new technologies such as photography and film to express themselves differently. Although many different styles and genres exist within modern art, some common themes can be identified. Famous artists such as Monet, Cezanne, and Picasso developed their own versions of this style. Modernism began in France around 1875. French artists were among the first in the world to explore new ways of painting that took advantage of developments in technology. They used bold colors and simplified shapes that made their paintings look modern. By the 1920s, modern art was very popular in France. During this time, artists such as Matisse, Derain, and Braque created their own versions of modern art. In Italy, artists started moving away from realism towards abstraction around 1910. Important artists include Umberto Boccioni, Giacomo Balla, Giorgio de Chirico, and Antonioni. In Germany, German expressionism appeared in the early twentieth century.