Avant-garde art began in France in the 1850s and continued to develop throughout the following decades, encompassing many art forms along the way. The hallmark of collectible avant-garde art is its tendency to feature social or political statements or to be subversive or revolutionary in some way. The term modern art is often used interchangeably with avant-garde and is meant to include any art that strays from more classic styles of art, such as landscape paintings, portraits, or realistic sculptures. By definition, avant-garde art pushes the boundaries and is often abstract and representational.