In art history “style” refers to a set of characteristics, motivations and governing dynamics of schools of art, i.e. the various periods, movements, and or dominant formal qualities inherent in these periods. This is not to be confused with affectations of style that any single artist might adopt as a signature mannerism.

Historically speaking style usually follows psychosocial, geopolitical, technological and intellectual trends of the particular era/period. Any given period can have single or multiple styles that arise as a result or response of these factors.

Presently the world in general has no single dominant style, and thus we are said to be in the Age of Pluralism. However, relatively recent developments in what many describe as AI Generated (artificial intelligence) art appears to be the next major single “style” on the horizon. This pseudo-art form does indeed have its signature homogenous style due to the many in which the programs driving the art are educated, as well as theincreasing tendency of these “art generators” to begin to imitate the images that they have disseminated in the internet.